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1684.  1884. 

CELEBRATION 


/       OF  THE 


TWO  HUNDREDTH  ANNIVERSARY 


OF  THE 


NAMING  OF  WORCESTER, 


OCTOBER  14  AND  15,  1884. 


WORCESTER,    MASS.: 
PRINTED    BY    ORDER     OF    THE    CITY    COUNCIL. 

MDCCCLXXXV. 


TABLE   OF   CONTENTS. 


•  Pages. 

I.    The  Preparations 11-23 

II.    Responses  to    Invitations,  . 24-33 

III.  The  Evening  Celebration, 34-36 

IV.  Address  of  the  Mayor, 37-42 

V.     Oration    of    Senator    Hoar, 43-83 

VI.    Address  of  Gov.    Robinson, 85-88 

VII.    Address  of  Gen.  Devens, 89-92 

VIII.    The  Street  Parade  and  other  Observances  of  the  Day,  .  93-111 

IX.    Historical  Notes, 113-137 

X.    Worcester  of   To-Day, 139-144 

XI.    Industrial  Notes,  and   Worcester  Industries  in  1836,  .  144-149 

XII.    Worcester  Industries  in  1884, 149-165 

XIII.    Bibliography  and  Chronology, 167-176 


nr^HE  "Committee  on  Historical  Facts"  for  the  celebration 
-^     by  the  City  of  Worcester  of  the  Two  Hundredth  Anni- 
versary of  the  naming  of  the  town,  present  in  this  volume  the 
result  of  their  labors. 

After  the  action  of  the  City  Council  authorizing  the  print- 
ing of  an  account  of  the  celebration  with  historical  and 
statistical  notes,  a  sub-committee  was  appointed  by  the  Mayor 
to  take  charge  of  the  publication.  This  committee,  consisting 
of  Nathaniel  Paine,  Henry  M.  Smith  and  Ellery  B. 
Crane,  have  had  the  immediate  charge  of  the  preparation 
and  printing  of  the  matter  contained  in  these  pages.  The 
account  of  the  procession,  the  decorations  and  the  various 
exercises  of  the  occasion,  has  been  compiled  from  the  daily 
papers  of  the  city,  and  the  historical,  statistical  and  biblio- 
graphical notes  have  been  prepared  by  members  of  the 
sub-committee. 

CHARLES  G.  REED,  Mayor. 

HENRY  A.  MARSH. 

HENRY  M.  SMITH. 

EDWARD  W.  LINCOLN. 

ELLERY  B.  CRANE. 

HENRY  L.  SHUMWAY. 

NATHANIEL  PAINE. 

RICHARD  O'FLYNN. 

SAMUEL  S.  GREEN. 

Worcester,  Mass.,  May,  1885. 


BI-OENTENNIAL   CELEBRATION. 


PREPARATIONS 


THE  PETITION. 


To  the  Honorable  the  Mayor 

and  City  Council  of  Worcester : — 

The  undersigned  citizens  of  Worcester  would  respectfully 
represent,  that,  inasmuch  as  within  the  autumn  of  the  year 
current  takes  place  the  Two  Hundredth  Anniversary  of  the 
naming  of  the  Settlement  of  Worcester,  by  order  of  the 
General  Court,  in  their  view  the  occasion  presented  is  one 
that  our  citizens  and  all  sons  of  Worcester,  at  home  and 
abroad,  must  welcome  as  opportune  for  the  suitable  commem- 
oration of  the  facts  of  the  growth  of  our  community  through 
two  hundred  years,  and  some  adequate  illustration  and  show- 
ing of  the  Worcester  of  to-day. 

We  respectfully  ask  your  honorable  body  to  so  recognize 
the  forthcoming  event  as  to  appoint  committees  to  co-operate 
with  our  citizens  at  large,  and  organized  bodies  in  our  midst. 


12 


BI-CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 


for  the   adoption   of  such   measures   as   may  seem   best  and 
fitting. 

Worcester,  May  24,  1884. 


E.  B.  CRANE, 
P.   C.  BACON, 
S.  E.  HILDRETH, 
STEPHEN  SALISBURY, 
NATH'L  PAINE, 
H.  B.   STAPLES, 
CHARLES  A.  CHASE, 
WM.  T.  HARLOW, 

E.  M.  BARTON, 
EDWARD  L.  DAVIS, 
SAMUEL  R.   HEYWOOD, 
C.  M.  MILES, 

B.  W.  POTTER, 
EMORY  BANISTER, 
W.  W.  RICE, 

W.  A.  DENHOLM, 

F.  H.  KINNICUTT. 
T.  W.  HAMMOND, 

C.  S.  TURNER, 

W.  T.  MERRIFIELD, 
DANIEL  SEAGRAVE, 
STEPHEN  SALISBURY,  Jr., 
P.   EMORY  ALDRICH, 
GEORGE  CHANDLER, 
F.   H.  DEWEY, 
E.  B.  STODDARD, 
WM.   S.  LINCOLN, 
SAMUEL  H.  PUTNAM, 
FRANKLIN  P.  RICE, 
CHARLES  B.  PRATT, 
J.  HENRY  HILL, 
EDWARD  W.   LINCOLN, 


CHARLES  E.   SANFORD, 
ALBERT  TOLMAN, 
CLARK  JILLSON, 
HENRY  M.   SMITH, 
ADIN  THAYER, 
H.   A.  MARSH, 
GEO.   CROMPTON, 
HENRY  W.  MILLER, 
G.  HENRY  WHITCOMB, 
JAMES  H.  MELLEN, 
SAMUEL  WOODWARD, 
G.  J.  RUGG, 

CHARLES  F.  WASHBURN, 
M.  J.  WHITTALL, 
DAVID  WHITCOMB, 
S.  M.  RICHARDSON, 
PHILIP  L.  MOEN, 
W.  E.  RICE, 

D.  H.  FANNING, 

E.  W.  VAILL, 
JOHN  S.  BALDWIN, 
JONAS  G.  CLARK, 
GEORGE  SUMNER, 
M.  J.   McCAFFERTY, 
CALEB  A.  WALL, 
JEROME  MARBLE, 
BENJ.  J.  DODGE, 
GEO.   S.  BARTON, 

J.  PICKETT, 
E.  P.  CURTIS, 
E.  A.  GOODNOW, 
CHARLES  B.   WHITING. 


CITY   OF    WORCESTER. 


The  foregoing  petition  was  presented  to  the  Board  of  Alder- 
men at  their  meeting  of  May  26,  and  by  them  referred  to  a 
Joint  Special  Committee  and  the  Common  Council  concurring, 
the  Committee  was  constituted  as  follows  : — 

Joint  Special  Committee. 

The  Mayor,  and  Aldermen  Thayer,  Porter  and  Clark. 
The   President  of  the   Common   Council,  and  Councilmen 
Estey,  Early,  Crawford  and  Ratigan. 

The  Committee  reported  June  23rd,  but  their  report  was 
recommitted  and  no  definite  action  was  reached  until  the  close 
of  the  summer  vacation. 

In  the  meantime  consultation  and  inquiry  were  left  to 
quietly  shape  the  forthcoming  event,  and  prepare  for  active 
operations,  brought  forward  on  x\ugust  11th,  in  the  Common 
Council  by  the  following  order  which  was  also  passed  and 
concurred  in  by  the  Board  of  Aldermen,  granting  the  prayer 
of  the  petition   and  providing  for  such   response   as  follows  : 

Ordered,  That  a  sum  not  exceeding  Five  Thousand  Dollars  be,  and  the  same 
is  hereby  appropriated  to  defray  the  expense  which  may  be  incurred  by  his 
Honor  the  Mayor,  Aldermen  Thayer,  Porter  and  Brady,  the  President  of  the 
Council,  and  Councilmen  Estey,  Early,  Crawford  and  Eatigan,  acting  as  a 
Joint  Special  Committee  in  Celebrating  the  Two  Hundredth  Anniversary  of 
the  Naming  of  the  Settlement  of  Worcester. 

And  that  the  Mayor  be,  and  is  hereby  authorized  to  draw  his  drafts  on  the 
City  Treasurer  for  the  payment  of  all  such  bills  of  expenditure  as  shall  be 


14:  BI-CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

authorized  and  approved  by  said  Committee  for  said  purpose,  to  the  amount 
of  said  sum.     The  same  to  be  charged  to  the  account  for  Incidental  Expenses. 
Approved  August  lath,  1884. 

CHARLES  G.  REED,  Mayor. 


A   supplementary  order  in   the   same   connection  is  given 
place  here,  as  follows  : — 

December  8th,  1884. 
Ordered,  That  One  Thousand  Dollars  be  and  the  same  is  hereby  appropri- 
ated for  expenses  of  the  the  Bi-Centennial  Celebration,  said  sum  to  be 
expended  under  the  dii-ection  of  the  Committee  having  said  matter  in  charge, 
this  amount  being  additional  to  five  thousand  dollars  appropriated  by  an 
order  of  the  City  Council,  adopted  August  11,  1884,  the  same  to  be  charged 
to  the  account  of  Incidental  Expenses. 

Approved  December  10,  1884. 

CHARLES  G.  REED,  Mayor. 


BICENTENNIAL   COMMITTEES. 


At  a  meeting  of  the  Joint  Special  Committee  of  the  City 
Council  held  August  15th,  to  carry  forward  arrangements  for 
the  Celebration,  the  Bi-Centennial  Committee  was  formally 
constituted  as  follows  : — 


Eoaecutive  Committee. 

CITY  GOVERNMENT. 

CHARLES  G.  REED,  Mayor. 

Aldermen  THAYER,  PORTER,  BRADY; 

COUNCILMEN  E.  0.  PARKER  (President),  ESTEY,  EARLY,  CRAWFORD. 

citizens  at  large. 

HENRY  A.  MARSH  and  WALDO  LINCOLN. 

Committee  on  Beeeption. 

CHARLES  G.  REED,  Mayor. 

PETER    C.    BACON,    WILLIAM    W.    RICE,    P.    EMORY    ALDRICH, 

PHINEHAS  BALL,    CLARK    JILLSON,    EDWARD   L.    DAVIS, 

CHARLES   B.  PRATT,  FRANK   H.  KELLEY,  E.  B.   STODDARD, 

SAMUEL  E.  HILDRETH, 

WALDO  LINCOLN,  J.  H.  WALKER,  P.  L.  MOEN,  A.  G.  WALKER, 

WILLIAM   E.    RICE,   GEORGE  S.  BARTON, 

HAMILTON  B.   STAPLES,  GEORGE  CROMPTON, 

HENRY  A.   MARSH,  J.  HENRY  HILL, 

T.  L.  NELSON. 

JOHN  R.  THAYER,  President  of  Board  of  Aldermen;  E.  0.  PARKER, 

President  of  the  Council;  F.  P.  GOULDING, 

City  Solicitor. 


16  BI-CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

Committee  on  Invitations. 

CHARLES  G.  REED,  Mayor. 

Alderman  THAYER,  President  of  Council  PARKER, 

Councilman  EARLY. 

J.  EVARTS  GREENE,  CHARLES  H.  DOE,  M.  J.  McCAFFERTY, 

T.   S.  JOHNSON. 

Committee  on  Oration  and  Literary  Exercises. 

CHARLES  G.  REED,  Mayor. 

Alderman  THAYER,  President  of  Council  PARKER. 

FRANK  A.   GASKILLL,  HENRY  A.  MARSH,  JOHN  J.  CASEY, 

NATHANIEL  PAINE. 

Committee  on  Historical  Facts.    - 

CHARLES  G.  REED,  Mayor. 

HENRY    A.    MARSH,    HENRY     M.     SMITH,    EDWARD    W.    LINCOLN, 

E.  B.  CRANE,  HENRY  L.   SHUMWAY,  NATHANIEL  PAINE, 

RICHARD  O'FLYNN,  SAMUEL  S.  GREEN. 

Committee  on  Trades  Procession.^ 

Alderman  BRADY,  Councilmen  CRAWFORD  and  RATIGAN. 

HENRY    M.    SMITH,    WALDO    LINCOLN,    HENRY    A.   MARSH, 

E.    B.    CRANE,    DANIEL    DOWNEY,    OSCAR    F.    RAWSON, 

W.  H.  RAYMENTON,  ANDREW  ATHY,  IVER  JOHNSON, 

M.  J.   WHITTALL,  FERD.  GAGNON. 

Committee  on  Procession. 

E.  O.  PARKER,  President  City  Council,  Councilman  EARLY. 

CHARLES    B.    WHITING,    R.    JAMES    TATMAN,    ANDREW    ATHY, 

M.    J.    WHITTALL,    JOHN    F.    H.    MOONEY,   J.    C.    MacINNES, 

AMOS  WEBBER,  BENJ.  ZAEDER,  GEORGE  B.   WITTER, 

A.  P.  MARBLE,  SIMON  E.  COMBS, 

GEORGE  McALEER. 

Committee  on  niuminations.  Salute  and  Tableaux. 

Councilman  EARLY. 

H.     R.     CUMMINGS,     J.     STEWART     BROWN,     C.     H.     CARPENTER, 

STEPHEN    SALISBURY,    Jr.,  CHARLES    HART  WELL, 

J.  C.  MacINNES,  GEORGE  B.  WITTER. 


1  The  arrangements  for  a  Trades  Procession  were  not  carried  out,  for  reasons  stated 
on  page  17. 


BI-CENTENNIAL  COMMITTEES.  17 

Committee  on  Decorations  and  Emblems. 

CouNCiLMEN  ESTEY  AND  RATIGAN. 

HENRY   L.    SHUMWAY,    JOHN    J.    CASEY,    R.    JAMES    TATMAN, 

CHAS.  B.  WHITING,  BENJ.  ZAEDER,  IVER  JOHNSON,  AMOS  WEBBER, 

C.    H.    CARPENTER,    J.     STEWART    BROWN, 

DANIEL  DOWNEY,  WILLIAM  J.  HOGG,  FERD.  GAGNON, 

W.  H.   RAYMENTON,  OSCAR  F.  RAWSON. 

Committee  on  Fireioorks. 

COUNCILMEN  CRAWFORD  AND  RATIGAN. 

J.  STEWART   BROWN,    JOHN   F.    H.    MOONEY,    W.    H.    RAYMENTON, 

CHARLES  HARTWELL,   MOSES  A.  LOWE, 

H.  R.  CUMMINGS. 

Committee  on  Printing. 

¥ 
Alderman  BRADY. 

RICHARD   OTLYNN,  O.  F.  HADWEN,  H.    M.    SMITH,  F.  A.  GASKILL, 

E.  B.  CRANE. 

Committee  on  Entertainment. 
E.  O.  PARKER,  R.  J.  TATMAN,  C.  B.   WHITING. 

Committee  on  Bailroacls. 
OSCAR  F.  RAWSON,  H.  Y.  SIMPSON,  E.  D.   STODDARD. 

Committee  on  Balloon  Ascension. 
W.  H.  RAYMENTON,  WALDO  LINCOLN,  HENRY  A.  MARSH. 

An  active  canvass  of  the  various  possible  and  feasible 
features  of  the  Celebration  was  made,  especially  with  reference 
to  the  co-operation  of  the  business  and  manufacturing  indus- 
tries of  the  city  in  a  Trades  Procession.  But  the  limited  time 
in  which  to  render  the  last  named  feature  worthy  of  the  city, 
as  well  as  fittingly  the  successor  of  the  great  Trades  Proces- 
sion of  1876,  induced  the  abandonment  of  this  part  of  the 
desired  programme. 


18  BI-CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

Invitations  were  issued  to  all  the  various  organizations  of 
the  city  to  participate  in  a  Military  and  Civic  Procession  on 
the  morning  of  Wednesday,  October  15th,  and  the  nature  of 
their  responses  will  be  shown  in  the  pages  recording  this 
feature  of  the  celebration. 

The  following  invitation  was  extended  to  the  Governor  of 
Massachusetts  and  to  the  Governors  of  other  New  England 
States,  to  Mayors  of  New  England  cities,  to  Ex-Mayors  and 
former  members  of  the  City  Government  of  Worcester,  and 
to  many  of  the  representative  sons  of  Worcester  resident 
abroad. 

The  City  of  Worcester 


1684.         \mC%W\         1884. 


cordially  invites 


to  be  present  as  the  City's  guest,  at  the 

Two    Hundredth    Anniversary 

of  the  naming  of  Worcester, 

October  fourteenth   and  fifteenth. 

Charles  G.  Reed,  Mayor. 

In  accordance  with  the  unanimous  action  of  the  General 
Committee  an  invitation  was  extended  to  Hon.  George  F. 
Hoar  to  deliver  an  address  to  the  City  Government  and 
people  of  Worcester  and  their  guests,  at  Mechanics  Hall  on 
the  evening  of  Tuesday,  October  14th,  and  Mr.  Hoar's 
acceptance  of  the  invitation  was  received  by  the  Committee 
on  August  28th. 


BI-CENTENNIAL  COMMITTEES.  -  19 

Gen.  Josiah  Pickett  was  appointed  Chief  Marshal,  to  have 
in  charge  the  Mihtary  and  Civic  Procession  of  Wednesday, 
15th. 

The  preHminary  labors  of  the  Bi-Centennial  Committee 
resulted  in  the  announcement  of  the  following  general  pro- 
gramme : — 

The  City  of  Worcester 


Will  celebrate,  on  October  14th  and  15th,  1884^ 
the  Two  Hundredth  Anniversary  of  the  action  of 
the  General  Court  giving  to  the  infant  settlement 
the  name  of  Worcester. 

PROGRAMME. 

Tuesday  Evening,  October  14th. 

General  Illumination. 

Literary  Exercises  in  Mechanics  Hall, 

With  Oration  by 

The  Hon.  Gkorge  Frisbie  Hoar, 

U.  S.  Senator. 


Wednesday,  October  15th, 

A.  M. 

Military  and  Civic  Procession. 

p.  M. 

Balloon  Ascension,  Promenade  Concerts, 

and 

Grand  Exhibition  of  Fireworks 

On  Newton  Hill. 


20  BI-CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

A  more  complete  announcement  of  the  General  Programme 
was  made  by  the  Committee  by  advertisements  in  the  daily 
newspapers,  English,  Swedish  and  French,  as  follows  : — 

THE  CITY  OF  WORCESTER 

Will  Celebrate 

October  14  and  15,  1884, 

THE  TWO  HUNDREDTH  ANNIVERSARY 

Of  the  action  of  the  General  Court,  giving  to  the  Infant  Settle- 
ment the  name  of  Worcester. 


PROGRAMME. 

Tuesday  Evening,  October  14, 

From  6  to  7  o'clock. 

Plymouth  Chimes  will  be  rung   by  Prof.  Walter  V.  V.  Marsh, 

of  Albany. 

General  Illumination  of  the  City. 

Literary  Exercises  in  Mechanics  Hall, 

At  7  :  30  o'clock. 

Oration  by  the  Hon   George  F.  Hoar, 

U.  S.  Senator. 


Wednesday,  October  15, 

Sunrise  Salute,  100  guns,  by  Battery  B,  from  the 

Agricultural  Grounds. 

From  9  to  10  A.  M.  Plymouth  Chimes,  by  Prof.  Marsh. 

At  10  A.  M. 

Military  and  Civic  Procession. 

From  1  to  2  P.  M.  Plymouth  Chimes,  by  Prof.  Marsh. 

At  3  P.  M. 

Balloon  Ascension. 

Mammoth  Balloon,  "■  City  of  Boston,"  in  charge  of  the  experienced 

aeronaut,  James  K.  Allen,  of  Providence,  carrying  four 

persons,  from  Quinsigamond  Avenue,  near 

City  Gas  Works. 

From  3  to  4:30  P.  M. 

Open  Air  Band  Concerts. 

At    points   as   follows: — 1.     Quinsigamond   Avenue.     2.     Court 

House    Hill.      3.     The   Old    Common.      4.     Elm    Park^ 

5.      Webster   Square.       6.     New   School-house 

on  Gage  Street. 


CHIEF  MARSHAL  AND  STAFF.  21 

At  4  :  30  P.  M. 

Military  Dress  Parade  on  the  Old  Common. 

Sunset  Salute  by  Battery  B,  from  Agricultural  Grounds. 

From  6  to  7  P.  M.  Plymouth  Chimes,  by  Prof.  Marsh. 

At  7  P.  M. 

A  Grand  Exhibition  of  Fireworks  on  Newton  Hill,  opposite  Elm 

Park.     The  Boulevard  in  front  reserved  exclusively 

for  spectators. 


Liberal  arrangements  have  been  made  by  all  the  Railroads  entering 

the  city  for  Excursion  Tickets  and  Special  Trains,  for 

panticulars  of  which  see  special  railway 

time  cards. 

By  Order  of  The  Committee. 
Worcester,  October  10,  1884. 


In  the  same  manner  Chief  Marshal  Pickett  issued  the  fol- 
lowing order  for  the  Bi-Centennial  Procession. 

HEADQUARTERS  OF  THE  CHIEF  MARSHAL. 

Room  14,  492  Main  Street. 

Worcester,  Mass.,  October  13,  1884. 

Gen.  Order  No.  3. 

The  following  is  the  order  of  formation  of  the  Bi-Ceutennial  Procession  on 
the  fifteenth  day  of  October,  1884  :— 

CHIEF   marshal's   ESCORT. 

The  Worcester  Continentals,  Col.  W.  S.  B.  Hopkins, 
Commanding. 

CHIEF  MARSHAL  AND  STAFF. 

First  Division. — Marshal,  Gen.  R.  H.  Chamberlain;  Assistant  Marshals, 
Major  E.  R.  Shuraway,  Lieut.  P.  L.  Rider,  and  J.  F.  Adams ;  Worcester 
Light  Infantry;  Worcester  City  Guards;  Gardner  Light  Infantry;  Post  10, 
G.  A.  R.  ;  Sons  of  Veterans;  Emmet  Guards;  St.  John's  Cadets;  Sacred 
Heart  Cadets ;  St.  Anne's  Cadets ;  St.  Annes  Guards ;  Worcester  Light 
Battery ;  Guests  in  Carriages. 

Second  Division. — Marshal,  Major  Nathan  Taylor;  Assistant  Marshals, 
Capt.  C.  N.  Hair,  Dr.  W.  H.  Sears,  Horace  W.  Willson;  Worcester  Uniformed 
Degree  Camp,  No.  3,  I.  O.  0.  F. ;  Wachusett  Encampment,  No.  10,  I.  O. 
0.  F. ;  Mt.  Vernon  Encampment,  No.  53,  I.  O.  0.  F. ;  Quinsigamond  Lodge, 
No.  43,  I.  0.  O.  F. ;  Central  Lodge,  No.  168,  I.  O.  O.  F. ;  Ridgely  Lodge,  No. 


22  BI-CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

112,  I.  0.  O.  F. ;  Blake  Lodge,  No.  49,  Knights  of  Pythias;  Damascus  Lodge, 
No.  50,  Knights  of  Pythias;  Integrity  Lodge,  No.  1768,  G.  U.  O.  F. ;  Prince 
Consort  Lodge,  No.  29,  Sons  of  St.  George;  St.  Andrew's  Society;  High 
School  Battalion ;  Iroquois  Tribe  Improved  Order  of  Red  Men. 

Third  Division. — Marshal,  Andrew  Athy;  Assistant  Marshals,  William 
Hickey,  B.  H.  McMahon,  P.  J.  Quinn;  Knights  of  Father  Matthew;  Father 
Matthew  Total  Abstinence  Society ;  Irish  Catholic  Benevolent  Union ;  Ancient 
Order  Hibernians,  Division  4,  with  visiting  order  from  Milford;  Ancient 
Order  Hibernians;  Sacred  Heart  Mutual  Benefit  Society;  St.  John's  Temper- 
ance Guild ;  Volunteers  of  '82. 

Fourth  Division.— Marshal,  Capt.  George  L.  Allen;  Assistant  Marshals, 
Capt.  Levi  Lincoln,  Lieut.  Henry  S.  Knight,  Charles  H.  Bowker;  Garde 
Lafayette ;  St.  Jean  Baptiste  Society ;  Reform  Club ;  Stationary  Engineers ; 
"Viking  Council  Order  of  Mystic  Brothers ;  German  Societies ;  Mechanics 
Association;  Worcester  County  Agricultural  Society;  Society  of  Antiquity ; 
Washington  Social  Club ;  Grangers. 

Fifth  Division. —Marshal,  Chief  Engineer  Simon  E.  Combs;  Ex-Firemen; 
Worcester  Fire  Department. 

The  Worcester  Continentals  will  form  on  Main  Street,  left  resting  on  Park 
Street. 

The  First  Division  Infantry  will  form  on  Park  Street,  right  resting  on 
Main  Street.  Light  Battery  B,  M.  V.  M.,  will  form  on  Salem  Square,  right 
resting  on  Park  Street.  Carriages  with  invited  guests  will  form  on  Main 
Street  in  double  lines,  head  resting  on  Park  Street. 

Second  Division  will  form  on  Pleasant  Street,  right  resting  on  Main  Street. 

Third  Division  will  form  on  Front  Street,  right  resting  on  Main  Street. 

Fourth  Division  will  form  on  Elm  Street,  right  resting  on  Main  Street. 

Fifth  Division  will  form  on  Foster  Street,  right  resting  on  Main  Street. 

All  organizations  must  report  to  the  Marshal  of  the  Division  to  which 
they  have  been  assigned,  promptly  at  9  o'clock  A.  M. 

The  Division  Marshals  with  their  Assistants  are  directed  to  be  present  at 
the  head  of  the  streets  on  which  their  respective  divisions  are  to  form,  punc- 
tually at  9  o'clock  A.  M.,  and  proceed  at  once  to  organize  their  divisions. 

At  10  o'clock  a  signal  will  be  given  of  two  (2)  strokes  on  the  Fire  Alarm 
bell.  Marshals  of  Divisions  at  this  signal  will  immediately  wheel  their 
commands  into  column  and  be  ready  to  move.  The  Procession  will  move  at 
10.15,  and  march  over  the  following  route:  Main,  Highland,  Harvard,  Bow- 
doin.  Chestnut,  Cedar,  Oak,  Elm,  Ashland,  Pleasant,  Irving,  Chatham,  Main, 
May,  Silver,  Claremont,  Main,  Front,  Bridge  and  Foster.  The  carriages 
containing  the  guests  of  the  city  will  leave  the  line  on  Foster  Street.  The 
Procession  will  then  continue  the  march,  and  when  the  head  of  each  organiza- 
tion or  society  reaches  Waldo  Street  it  will  be  dismissed  under  command  of 
its  own  officers. 

The  streets  through  which  the  Procession  is  to  pass  must  be  kept  clear  of 
vehicles  of  all  descriptions  while  the  Procession  is  passing.     It  is  expected 


PROCLAMATION.  23 

that  the  public  will  see   the  importance  of  a  strict   compliance  with  this 
request. 

The  Staff  of  the  Chief  Marshal  will  report  for  duty  at  8.30,  and  the  Honorary 
Staff  at  9  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  15th  of  October,  at  Headquarters, 
492  Main  Street,  room  14.     The  Honorary  Staff  will  be  under  the  direction  of 
Gen.  S.  H.  Leonard,  assisted  by  Col.  John  M.  Studley. 
By  command  of 

Gen.  JOSIAH  PICKETT,   Chief  Marshal. 
E.  T.  RAYMOND,  Chief  of  Staff. 


Worcester,  Mass.,  October  14,  1884. 
Having  been  ordered  by  the  Mayor  and  Board  of  Aldermen  to  keep  the 
streets  and  squares,  during  the  formation  of  the  Procession,  and  the  streets, 
during  the  march,  clear  of  vehicles  of  all  descriptions,  the  Public  are  hereby 
,notifled  that  a  strict  compliance  with  the  order  will  be  enforced. 

AMOS  ATKINSON, 

City  Marshal  and  Chief  of  Police. 

The  following  was  issued  by  the  Mayor  on  the  date  it 
bears  : — 

A  PROCLAMATION. 

Mayor's  Office,  October  9,  1884. 

The  Citizens  of  Worcester  are  respectfully  requested  to  co-operate  with 
the  Citv  Council  in  the  Celebration  of  the  Two  Hundredth  Anniversary.  It 
is  the  desire  of  the  Executive  Committee  that  every  stoi'e,  factory  and  dwell- 
ing on  Main  Street  from  Lincoln  Square  to  Franklin  Square,  Front  Street  to 
Union  Depot,  Park  Street  and  Salem  Square  around  the  Common,  be  illumi- 
nated on  the  evening  of  the  14th  instant,  by  their  owners  or  occupants,  and 
such  other  portions  of  the  City  as  individual  citizens  may  desire,  and  that  all 
buildings  on  the  route  of  the  Procession  be  decorated  on  the  morning  of  the 
15th,  and  that  locations  of  historical  interest,  not  only  on  the  route  of 
Procession,  but  all  points  of  the  City  associated  with  the  early  days  of 
Worcester,  shall  receive  appropriate  inscriptions  by  their  occupants  or 
owners,  in  addition  to  the  general  decoration,  in  which  the  citizens  are 
invited  to  co-operate. 

The  Public  Schools  and  the  Offices  at  the  City  Hall  will  be  closed  on  the 
15th,  and  it  is  desired  that  there  be  a  general  suspension  of  business  on  that 
day,  that  employer  and  employed  may  actively  participate  in  this,  our 
Bi- Centennial,  the  general  features  of  which,  with  route  of  Procession,  will 
be  found  in  the  announcement  of  the  General  Committee. 

.CHARLES  G.  REED,  Mayor. 


RESPONSES   TO    INYITATIONS. 


Among  the  City's  guests,  on  the  occasion  of  the  celebration,, 
participating  in  the  exercises  at  Mechanics  Hall  and  the 
Procession,  were  Governor  George  D.  Robinson  and  Staff; 
Hon.  Charles  Devens ;  Hon.  E.  R.  Hoar;  State  Senator 
E.  I.  Thomas ;  Adjutant  General  Dalton ;  Prof.  Francis 
Andrew  March  and  Major  Ben  :  Perley  Poore,  both  in  early 
life  among  our  residents ;  and  the  following  Mayors  of  New 
England  cities  : — 

Hon.  Thomas  A.  Doyle,  Mayor  of  Providence,  R.  I. 
Hon.  Henry  G.  Lewis,  Mayor  of  New  Haven,  Ct. 
Hon.  Daniel  A.  Morgan,  Mayor  of  Bridgeport,  Ct. 
Hon.  J.  C.  Lathrop,  Mayor  of  Dover,  N.  H. 
Hon.  Calvin  Page,  Mayor  of  Portsmouth,  N.  H. 
Hon.  John  Breen,  Mayor  of  Lawrence. 
Hon.  James  E.  Delaney,  Mayor  of  Holyoke. 
Hon.  John  J.  Donavon,  Mayor  of  Lowell. 
Hon.  J.  Wesley  Kimball,  Mayor  of  Newton. 
Hon.  Augustus  P.  Martin,  Mayor  of  Boston. 
Hon.  Thomas  Strahan,  Mayor  of  Chelsea. 
Hon.  Alonzo  Davis,  Mayor  of  Fitchburg. 
Hon.  Lewis  I.  Fuller.  Mayor  of  Maiden. 

The  only  survivors  of  the  first  City  Government  of  Worces- 
ter in  1848,  were  Alderman  James  S.  Woodworth,  and 
Councilmen  Daniel  Goddard,  William  T.  Merrifield,  Calvin 
Foster  and  Albert  Curtis,  and  the  first  Clerk  of  the  Council, 
William  A.  Smith.  These  were  among  the  invited  guests  of 
the  occasion. 

Letters  acknowledging  receipt  of  invitation  and  regretting 
inability  to  be  present  were  received  from  the  Mayors  of 
Worcester,  England  ;  Fall  River,  Haverhill,  Lynn,  Newbury- 
port,  Northampton,  Salem,  Somerville,  Mass.  ;  Augusta, 
Bangor,  Biddeford,  Gardiner,  Lewiston,  Portland,  Saco, 
Me.  ;  Hartford,  Meriden,  Middletown,  Ct.  ;  Concord,  Keene, 
Nashua,  N.  H.  ;  Newport,  R.  L 


CORRESPONDENCE.  25 

Correspondence  between    Mayor  Reed  and   the  Mayor  of 
Worcester,  England. 

MAYOR   REED'S   LETTER   TO   THE    MAYOR   OE    WORCESTER,    ENG. 

Worcester,  September  17th,  1884. 

Your  Worship: 

A  little  more  than  two  hundred  years  ago,  a  few  settlers  built 
their  cabins  in  the  primeval  forests-  where  our  city  now  stands.  Their  title 
to  the  lands  was  obtained  by  purchase  from  the  Indians  and  by  grant  from 
the  General  Court  of  the  Colony  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay  in  New  England. 

On  the  15th  day  of  October,  1684,  the  General  Court,  at  the  request  of  the 
proprietors,  gave  to  the  settlement,  previously  known  as  Quinsigamond,  the 
name  of  Worcester. 

The  two  hundredth  anniversary  of  that  event  it  is  our  purpose  to  celebrate 
on  the  loth  of  next  month,  with  appropriate  ceremonies,  and  an  address  by 
our  citizen,  the  Honorable  George  Frisbie  Hoar,  a  Senator  of  the  United 
States. 

Remembering  that  from  your  ancient  city  cnr  Worcester  derived  its  name, 
and  that  a  friendship,  which  we  trust  ma\  always  continue,  quickened  by 
interchange  of  visits  and  kindly  messages,  has  subsisted  between  our  city  and 
yours  for  more  than  two  score  years,  it  is  our  earnest  desire  that  your  city 
may  join  with  ours  in  commemorating  our  acceptance  of  the  name  which  the 
men  of  Worcester,  in  either  hemisphere,  will  always  cherish  with  pride  and 
affection. 

We  beg,  therefore,  Your  Worship,  that  you  or  some  other  official  representa- 
tive of  the  older  Worcester,  will  visit  us  at  that  time  as  the  guest  of  our 
city.  Your  visit  would  give  us  great  pleasure,  and,  we  trust,  would  not  be 
without  interest  and  satisfaction  to  yourself. 

With  sentiments  of  great  respect,  I  am  Your  Worship's 
Obedient  Servant, 

CHARLES  G.  REED, 

Mayor  of  Worcester,  Massachusetts. 

MAYOR  WILLIAMSON'S  REPLY. 

Guildhall,  Worcester, 
Old  England,  1st  October,  1884. 
To  Charles  G.  Reed,  Esq., 

Mayor  of  the  City  of  Worcester, 

Massachusetts,  U.  S.  A. 
My  Dear  Mr.  Mayor  : 

I  am  in  receipt  of  yours  of  the  17th  ultimo,  for  which 
I  am  obliged. 

I  feel  very  greatly  honoured  by  your  kind  invitation  to  visit  your  city, 
either  in  person  or  by  deputy,   on   the    15th  instant ;   but  as  I  have  many 
3 


26  BI-CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

engagements  during  this  month,  and  right  up  to  the  9th  of  November,  when 
my  term  of  office  expires,  I  cannot  see  how  it  is  possible  for  me  to  leave 
England.  If  it  had  not  been  for  those  circumstances,  nothing  would  have 
given  me  greater  pleasure,  than  to  have  taken  the  next  steamer  for  New  York, 
and  from  thence  to  have  gone  to  Worcester,  to  be  with  you,  and  join  in  your 
festivities  on  the  15th  instant. 

It  is  pleasing  and  gratifying  to  my  fellow-citizens  and  myself  to  know  that 
there  exists  between  the  Citizens  of  Worcester  in  the  New  Country  and  those 
of  Worcester  in  the  Old  Country,  such  cordial  feelings  of  respect  and 
goodwill.  Indeed,  I  may  say  on  behalf  of  my  fellow-citizens,  that  they 
esteem,  with  feelings  of  affectionate  regard,  the  people  over  whom  you  have 
the  honour  to  preside  as  Chief  Magistrate. 

It  must  be  gratifying  to  you  to  be  Mayor  of  Worcester,  in  a  year  when  so 
interesting  an  event  is  to  take  place,  as  that  of  celebrating  the  two  hundredth 
anniversary  of  the  founding  of  so  important  a  city  as  yours. 

I  heartily  reciprocate  the  good  feeling  and  kindness  which  have  prompted 
you  to  offer  to  me,  or  a  representative  of  Worcester,  hospitality  on  that 
occasion. 

Several  of  my  fellow-citizens  who  have  visited  you  during  the  past  few 
years  have  reported  your  generosity  and  kindness  to  them  whilst  sojourning 
with  you. 

Could  I  or  a  representative  avail  ourselves  of  your  kind  invitation,  I  feel 
sure  that  you  would  greet  us  with  a  most  hearty  welcome.  With  you,  Mr. 
Mayor,  I  sincerely  hope  that  those  kind  relationships,  which  have  subsisted 
between  the  two  cities  for  so  many  years,  may  continue  to  increase  and  be 
strengthened  by  the  manly  ties  of  true  friendship. 

Wishing  you  and  your  City  every  success  and  prosperity  in  the  future, 
with  feelings  of  great  respect,  I  am 

Your  Worship's  obedient  Servant, 

W.  B.  WILLIAMSON,  J.  P., 

Mayor  of  Worcester,  Old  England. 


Guildhall,  Worcester, 
10  October,  1884. 
The  Worshipful  The  Mayor  of  Worcester, 

Massachusetts. 

Dear  Mr.  Mayor: 

I  have  the  pleasure  to  inform  you  that  the  recent  correspond- 
ence between  us,  with  reference  to  the  celebration  of  the  two  hundredth 
anniversary  of  your  City,  was  laid  before  the  Council  of  this  City,  at  their 
meeting  on  the  7th  instant,  and  that  the  following  Resolution  was  unani- 
mously passed  thereon : — 

"That  this  Council  tender  to  the  Mayor  of  Worcester,  Massachusetts,  their 
thanks  for  the  very  cordial  invitation  given  to  the  Mayor  of  this  City  to  be 


LETTERS.  27 

present  at  the  celebration  of  the  two  hundredth  anniversary  of  the  foundation 
of  the  City  of  Worcester,  Massachusetts. 

"This  Council  also  desire  to  convey  to  the  Mayor  of  Worcester,  Massachu- 
setts, their  congratulations  upon  so  interesting  an  occasion  and  an  assurance 
of  their  great  interest  in  the  progress  and  prosperity  of  the  important  City 
over  which  he  presides,  a  City  which  so  worthily  represents  in  another 
hemisphere  the  name  borne  by  this  city  for  more  than  1200  years." 

With  feelings  of  great  respect, 

I  am. 

Your  Worship's  obedient  Servant, 

W.  B.  WILLIAMSON, 

Mayor  of  Worcester,  England. 

The  following  were  among  the  letters  received  by  the 
Mayor  as  Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Invitations  : — 

FROM  GEORGE  BANCROFT. 

October  II,  1884. 
To  the  Mayor  of  the  City  of  Worcester : 

I  am  most  sensible  of  the  honor  done  me  by 
your  invitation  to  be  your  guest  at  the  great  Bi-Centennial  Celebration  of  my 
native  place.  Nothing  but  a  complication  of  engagements  which  are 
absolutely  beyond  my  control  could  keep  me  away  from  you  on  the  occasion. 

I  remain,  dear  Mr.  Mayor, 

Most  sincerely  and  respectfully  yours, 

GEO.  BANCROFT. 

FROM  GOV.  BOURN  OF  RHODE  ISLAND. 

Bristol,  October  13,  1884. 
My  Dear  Sir  : 

I  regret  exceedingly  that  I  shall  be  unable  to  be  present  at  the 
two  hundredth  anniversary  of  the  naming  of  the  City  of  Worcester. 

Permit  me  to  congratulate  the  City  of  Worcester  upon  the  completion  of 
its  two  hundredth  year,  and  to  express  the  hope  that  its  future  may  be  no 
less  prosperous  than  the  past. 

Very  Respectfully, 

Yours, 

AUGUSTUS  O.  BOURN. 

Hon.  Charles  G.  Reed,  Mayor,  Worcester,  Mass. 


28  BI-CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

FROM  GOV.  WALLER  OF  CONNECTICUT. 

State  of  Connecticut.     Executive  Department. 

Hartford,  October  4,  1884. 
His  Honor  Chari.es  G.  Reed, 

Mayor  of  Worcester. 

Sir  :  I  regret  that  other  engagements  will  prevent  my  acceptance  of  your 
invitation  to  be  present  at  the  T-wo  Hundredth  Anniversary  of  the  naming  of 
your  beautiful  and  prosperous  city. 

Hoping  that  the  occasion  will  be  enjoyed  in  a  way  to  be  remembered  by  all 
the  participants, 

I  am  truly  yours, 

THOMAS  M.   WALLER. 

FROM  GOV.  HALE  OF  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 
The  State  of  New  Hampshire.    Executive  Department. 

Concord,  October  13,  1884. 
To  Hon.  Charles  G.  Reed, 

Worcester^  Mass. 
Dear  Sir  : — 

Your  favor  inviting  me  to  be  present  at  the  Two  Hundredth  Anni- 
versary of  the  naming  of  Worcester  came  duly  to  hand ;  and  I  have  delayed 
answering  the  same  until  the  last  moment,  hoping  that  I  should  be  able  to  be 
present  on  the  interesting  occasion,  but  circumstances  beyond  my  control  will 
prevent  my  attendance,  which  I  very  much  regret. 

Yours  respectfully, 

S.  W.  HALE. 
FROM  GOV.  ROBIE  OF  MAINE. 

State  ok  Maine.     Executive  Department. 

Augusta,  October  7th,  1884. 
Hon.  Charles  G.  Reed, 

Mayor  of  the  City  of  Worcester. 
Dear  Sir  : — 

Please  accept  my  thanks  for  j^our  kind  invitation  to  be  present  as 
the  guest  of  your  city  on  so  memorable  occasion  as  the  Two  Hundredth 
Anniversary  of  the  naming  of  Worcester.  I  regret  exceedingly  that  official 
engagements  at  home  will  prevent  my  accepting  the  same. 

Yours  very  respectfully, 

FREDERICK  ROBIE. 


LETTERS.  29 

FROM  SENATOR  DAWES. 

PiTTSFiELD,  Mass.,  October  14,  1884. 

Hon.  Charles  G.  Reed,  Mayor. 

A  loug  absence  from  home  prevented  your  kind  invitation  reaching 
me  till  last  night.  I  regret  exceedingly  that  pressing  engagements,  long 
delayed,  will  enforce  ray  absence  from  your  distinguished  city's  most  notable 
anniversary. 

H.  L.  DAWES. 

FROM  ANDREW  H.  GREEN. 

New  York,  October  9th,  1884. 
Hon.  Charles  G.  Reed,  Mayor. 

Dear  Sir  : — 

I  was  mucla  gratified  at  the  remembrance  which  has  brought  to  me 
the  hospitable  invitation  of  the  City  of  Worcester,  to  be  present  at  the  Two 
Hundredth  Anniversary  of  its  naming. 

It  is  with  no  light  regret  that  I  find  that  my  occupations  and  engagements 
are  such  as  to  deprive  me  of  the  pleasure  of  its  acceptance. 

I  cannot  readily  reconcile  myself  to  the  exigencies  that  compel  me  to  forego 
participation  in  a  festival,  that  promises  to  be  so  replete  with  the  revival  and 
recital  of  reminiscences  of  exceeding  interest,  and  so  fruitful  in  hopeful 
anticipations  for  your  city  of  a  continued  career  of  undisturbed  prosperity. 

The  associations  of  the  occasion  will  naturally  suggest  fresh  incentives, 
and  inspire  new  resolves,  to  maintain  those  high  standards  of  action  in  public 
affairs  and  in  private  life,  which  are  the  only  guarantees  for  the  perpetuation 
of  free  institutions,  the  safest  guides  in  all  beneficent  enterprises  and  efforts 
for  the  elevation  and  advancement  of  all  conditions  of  men. 

Accept,  Mr.  Mayor,  for  yourself  and  for  the  gentlemen  associated  with  you 
in  the  administration  of  the  concerns  of  your  beautiful  city,  the  assurances  of 
the  cordial  interest  iu  the  objects  of  the  appointed  celebration  and  the  regards 
and  congratulations  of 

Yours,  very  respectfully  and  truly, 

ANDREW  H.  GREEN. 

FROM  J.  C.   BANCROFT  DAVIS. 

Glenclyffe,  Garrison's  P.  O., 

Putnam  County,  N.  Y. 

4  October,  1884. 
To  his  Honor  The  Mayor  of  the  City  of  Worcester. 

Dear  Sir  : — 

If  it  were  possible  for  me  to  accept  the  kind  invitation  to  be  present 
at  the  Two  Hundredth  Anniversary  of  the  naming  of  Worcester  I  should 
certainly  do  so.     Unfortunately  the  days  named  for  the  celebration  are  fii'st 


30  BI-CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

days  of  the  next  term  of  the  Supreme  Court,  where  my  duties  require  me  to 
be  present. 

I  thank  you  sincerely  for  the  invitation  and  am  very  sorry  that  I  am 
obliged  to  deny  myself  the  pleasure  of  accepting  it. 

With  the  best  v?ishes  for  the  success  of  the  celebration, 

I  am,  Mr.  Mayor,  Very  faithfully  yours, 

J.  C.  BANCROFT  DAVIS. 

FROM  A.  McFARLAND  DAVIS. 

San  Francisco,  October  6,  1884. 
Hon.  Chas.  G.  Reed,  Mayor,  <&c.,  &c. 

Dear  Sir  : — 

I  have  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  kind  invitation  to  be 
present  as  the  City's  guest  at  the  Two  Hundredth  Anniversary  of  the  naming 
of  Worcester. 

It  is  with  regret  that  I  say  in  reply  that  I  am  compelled  to  decline  the 
invitation. 

Although  for  many  years  I  have  only  been  able  to  pay  an  occasional  visit  to 
the  place  of  my  birth,  I  have  watched  with  interest  its  steady  growth  and 
constant  prosperity.  It  has  been  to  me  a  source  of  pride  and  pleasure  to  find 
that  the  judgment  of  my  mature  years  fully  endorsed  the  boyish  enthusiasm 
with  which  I  was  accustomed  in  ray  youth  to  assert  my  claims  to  Worcester 
as  the  place  of  my  nativity.  That  there  may  be  as  many  causes  for  congrat- 
ulation in  the  past  of  the  citizens  of  Worcester  two  hundred  years  hence  as 
exist  on  the  occasion  of  this  anniversary  is  the  best  wish  that  a  son  of 
Worcester  can  express  in  her  behalf. 


I  remain,  Very  respectfully  yours, 


A.  McF.  DAVIS. 


FROM  GENERAL  SHERIDAN. 
Headquarters  Army  of  the  United  States. 

Washington,  D.  C,  October  14,  1884. 
Dear  Sir  : — 

In  reply  to  your  kind  invitation  to  attend  the  Two  Hundredth 
Anniversary  of  the  naming  of  Worcester,  October  14th  and  15th,  as  the  City's 
guest,  I  am  sorry  to  have  to  say  that  it  will  be  impossible   for  me  to  be 
present  on  the  occasion  named,  on  account  of  previous  engagements. 
Thanking  you  for  your  kind  consideration,  believe  me, 

Very  truly  yours, 

P.  H.  SHERIDAN,  Lieut.  Gen. 
Hon.  Chas.  G.  Reed,  Mayor,  Worcester,  Mass. 


LETTERS.  31 

FROM  REV.  DR.   HUNTINGTON. 

New  York,  October  13,  1884. 

My  Dear  Mr.  Mayor  :— 

As  one  of  the  foster-children  of  Worcester,  who  has 
never  had  reason  to  think  of  her  save  as  a  most  kind  mother,  I  beg  to  express 
the  sincere  regret  I  feel  at  not  being  able  to  attend  the  Commemoration  on 
Tuesday  and  Wednesday  of  this  week.  The  growth  of  your  (I  had  almost 
written  "our")  municipality,  unexampled,  I  suppose  in  the  Eastern  States, 
is  a  signal  illustration  of  what  ingenuity  and  perseverance,  not  unmixed  with 
sturdy  honesty,  can  do  in  the  face  of  many  natural  disadvantages  and  under 
the  pressure  of  formidable  rivalry.  May  those  civic  virtues  which  make  the 
safety  of  States  keep  the  foot-hold  they  have  already  gained  in  Worcester  for 
twice  two  hundred  years  to  come. 

With  great  respect,  I  remain 

Most  truly  yours, 

W.  R.  HUNTINGTON. 

To  his  Honor  Charles  G.  Reed,  Mayor  of  Worcester. 

FROM  BISHOP  O'REILLY. 

Springfield,  October  11th,  1884. 
Hon.  Chares  G.  Reed. 
Dear  Sir  : — 

I  thank  you  very  much  for  your  courtesy  in  inviting  me  to  be  a 
guest  of  the  City  on  the  second  centenary  of  its  baptism.  On  the  14th  inst. 
I  am  engaged  for  Contirmation  at  St.  John's  (my  old  home),  and,  if  possible, 
I  shall  spend  some  time  in  afternoon  or  evening  to  repay  the  hospitality  of 
the  Honored  Mayor  of  a  City  I  love  so  much. 

With  much  esteem, 

Yours  respectfully, 

P.  T.  O'REILLY, 

Bp.  of  Springfield. 

FROM  PROF.  CHARLES  O.  THOMPSON. 

President's  Room, 

Terre  Haute,  Indiana,  October  11,  1884. 

My  Dear  Sir  :— 

Pray  accept  my  thanks  for  the  invitation  to  be  present  at  the 
Two  Hundredth  Anniversary  of  the  naming  of  Worcester.  The  name  starts 
none  but  happy  thoughts   and  memories,  and  I  would  gladly  join  my  old 


32  BI-CENTENNIAL  CEt-EBRATION. 

neighbors  in  this    celebration   were    not   the    distance    that    separates    us 
insuperable. 

It  will  not  be  easy  to  find  a  town  that  has  more  to  show  for  the  labor,  the 
fidelity,  and  the  hope  of  two  centuries. 

Yours  very  truly, 

CHARLES  0.  THOMPSON. 
Hon.  Chas.  G.  Reed. 


FROM  EX-GOVERNOR  CHAMBERLAIN. 

346  Broadway,  New  York,  October  11,  1884, 

Hon.  Charles  G.  Reed, 

Mayor  of  the  City  of  Worcester,  Mass. 

Dear  Sir  : — 

I  am  greatly  honored  by  your  invitation  to  be  present  as  the  guest 
of  the  City  of  Worcester  on  the  14th  and  15th  insts. — the  200th  anniversary  of 
the  naming  of  the  City  of  Worcester. 

It  is  the  celebration  of  a  most  interesting  event,  in  which  all  who  are 
connected  with  the  City  or  County  of  Worcester  will  be  glad  to  join.  My 
business  will  not,  however,  permit  me  to  be  present,  and  I  must  therefore 
send  my  thanks  and  regrets,  with  the  expression  of  most  ardent  hopes  for 
the  continued  growth,  prosperity  and  good  fame  of  the  City  of  Worcester. 

I  am.  Sir, 

Gratefully  and  truly, 

D.  H.  CHAMBERLAIN. 

FROM  REV.  EDWARD  EVERETT  HALE. 

39  Highland  St.,  Roxbury,  Mass.,  October  9,  1884. 

My  Dear  Sir  : — 

Much  to  my  regret  I  find  I  shall  not  be  able  to  be  at  Worcester 
on  either  of  the  days  of  the  Anniversary,  some  previous  engagements  having 
lapped  over  into  those  days. 
With  every  wish  for  the  prosperity  of  the  city  for  the  next  hundred  years, 

Believe  me,  yours  truly, 

E.  E.  HALE. 


LETTERS.  33 

FROM  GEORGE  WILLIAM  CURTIS. 

AsHFiELD,  Mass.,  October  14th,  1884. 

Dear  Sir  : — 

I  am  very  ranch  honored  by  the  invitation  of  the  City  of  "Worcester 
to  be  its  guest  upon  the  occasion  of  the  Two  Hundredth  Anniversary  of  the 
naming  of  the  city,  and  I  sincerely  regret  that  I  am  unable  to  accept  it.  I 
cherish  a  most  filial  feeling  towards  the  city  upon  whose  site  my  ancestor, 
Ephraim  Curtis,  was  the  first,  or,  if  Mr.  Blake  in  his  late  interesting  paper 
has  rightfully  shorn  away  some  of  his  laurels,  certainly  the  second,  settler, 
I  am  very  proud  to  be  descended  fi-om  one  of  the  founders  of  a  city  which 
has  been  always  conspicuous  for  its  devotion  to  liberty.  Its  most  familiar 
title  is  its  proudest,  the  Heart  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts. 

Very  respectfully  yours, 
•  •  GEORGE  WILLIAM  CURTIS. 

The  Honorable  Charles  G.  Reed,  Mayor,  &c.,  &c. 

FROM  EDWARD  S.  HOAR. 

Concord,  October  8th,  1884. 
Hon.  Charles  G.  Reed,  Mayor. 
Dear  Sir  : — 

Since  receiving  your  polite  invitation,  I  find  that  other  engage- 
ments render  my  attendance  on  your  Celebration  uncertain  and  that  my 
family  and  myself  were  to  be  the  guests  of  Senator  Hoar.  You  will  please, 
therefore,  consider  me  as  provided  for  by  my  brother's  hospitality. 

Very  respectfully, 

EDWARD  S.  HOAR. 

FROM  REV.  T.  W.  HIGGINSON. 

Cambridge,  Mass.,  October  10,  1884. 

Hon.  Charles  G.  Reed, 

Mayor  of  Worcester. 

Dear  Sir  : — 

I  feel  much  honored  by  the  invitation  to  be  the  guest  of  the  City  of 
Worcester  at  the  200th  anniversary.  Another  engagement  will  prevent  me 
from  being  present  on  the  evening  of  the  14th,  but  I  hope  to  present  on  the 
15th  October,  although  I  may  be  unable  to  do  so. 

Very  respectfully  yours, 

THOS.  WENTWORTH  HIGGINSON. 


THE    EVENING   CELEBRATION. 


Soon  after  night-fall  of  Wednesday  the  general  observance 
of  the  order  for  illuminating  the  central  portion  of  the  city 
gave  a  brilliant  effect  to  the  principal  streets. 

The  meeting  at  Mechanics  Hall  was  preceded  by  the 
ringing  of  Plymouth  Chimes  for  an  hour,  beginning  at  6 
o'clock,  and  a  Concert  by  the  Worcester  Brass  Band,  in  front 
of  the  hall,  beginning  at  7  o'clock. 

The  Bi-Centennial  Committee  assembled  at  the  Bay  State 
House  and  at  the  hour  appointed  escorted  the  City's  guests  to 
Mechanics  Hall,  where  the  exercises  were  carried  out  in 
accordance  with  the  following  programme  : — 

THE     PROGRAMME. 

I.     Organ  Prelude. 

B.  D.  Allen. 

II.     Loyal  Hymn Kucken. 

Double  Male  Quartette. 

III.  Prayer  by  Rev.  C.  M.  Lamson. 

IV.  Address  by  the  Mayor, 

Hon.  Charles  G.  Reed. 

V.     Anniversary  Ode John  Pierpont. 

Double  Male  Quartette. 
VI.     Oration. 

Hon.  George  F.  Hoar. 

VII.     Anniversary  Hvran Isaac  Watts. 

Double  Male  Quartette  and  Audience. 

VIII.     Brief  Addresses, 

By  distinguished  guests. 

IX.     Music—"  St!ir  Spangled  Banner,"  by  Worcester  Brass  Band. 


EVENING  CELEBRATION.  35 

Mechanics  Hall  was  handsomely  decorated.  On  the  front 
of  the  gallery  opposite  the  platform  were  in  bold  letters  the 
names  : 

DANIEL  GOOKIN.  THOMAS  PRENTICE.  DANIEL  HENCHMAN. 

The  three  settlers  named  in  the  original  act,  1684,  giving  the 
name  of  Worcester  to  the  settlement.  The  Committee  in 
charge  of  the  hall  had  secured  from  the  High  School  the 
following  pupils  who  served  as  ushers  : — 

Charles  M.  Thayer,  Merril  D.  Brigham,  Edward  Campbell,  Paul  A.  Davis, 
Harri^ion  P.  Eddy,  James  H.  Garvey,  William  A.  Hickey,  Albert  H.  Inman, 
Sumner  A.  Kinsley,  Walter  Plunkett,  Arthur  D.  Putnam,  Stanley  A.  Rood, 
James  L.  Timon,  Prank  Underwood,  George  P.  Zaeder. 

His  Honor  Mayor  Reed  presided,  and  there  were  with  him 
upon  the  platform,  Hon.  George  F.  Hoar,  the  orator  of  the 
evening ;  His  Excellency  Gov.  George  D.  Robinson  ;  Hon. 
Charles  Devens ;  Hon.  E.  R.  Hoar;  State  Senator  E.  I. 
Thomas:  Rev.  C.  M.  Lamson,  chaplain;  the  members  of  the 
City  Council ;  and  the  following  distinguished  guests  and 
representative  citizens  : — 


Ex-Mayors  Hon.  William  W.  Rice,  Hon.  Clark  Jillson,  Hon.  Edward  L. 
Davis,  Hon.  Charles  B.  Pratt.  Hon.  Frank  H.  Kelley,  Hon.  Elijah  B.  Stoddard, 
Hon.  Samuel  E.  Hildreth;  Messrs.  Calvin  Foster,  J.  S.  Woodworth,  Albert 
Curtis  and  William  T.  Merrifield,  members  of  the  first  City  Council ;  Sergeant 
Thomas  Plunkett,  Hon.  George  S.  Barton,  George  Crompton,  Judge  Thomas 
L.  Nelson,  Stephen  Salisbury,  William  E.  Rice,  Col.  E.  J.  Russell,  Samuel  S. 
Green,  P.  L.  Moen,  Nathaniel  Paine,  George  B.  Witter,  F.  A.  Gaskill,  J.  Henry 
Hill,  Ferd.  Gagnon,  F.  P.  Goukling,  Joseph  H.  Walker.  C.  H.  Carpenter,  Dr. 
W.  H.  Raymenton,  Henry  A.  Marsh,  R.  James  Tatman,  and  many  others. 
Among  the  notable  people  upon  the  floor  were  Col.  Ivers  Phillips,  of  Boulder, 
Col.,  and  Bonum  Nye,  of  North  Brookfield. 


The  organ  prelude  by  Mr.  B.  D.  Allen  was  followed  by 
the  singing  by  a  Double  Male  Quartette  of  Kucken's  "  Loyal 
Hymn." 


36  BI-CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

Rev.  C.  M.  Lamson  read  a  selection  from  Scripture  as 
follows  : — 

Matthew,  V.  14-16.  Ye  are  the  light  of  the  world.  A  city  that  is  set  upon 
an  hill  canuot  be  hid.  Neither  do  men  light  a  candle  and  put  it  under  a  bushel, 
but  on  a  candlestick ;  and  it  giveth  light  to  all  that  are  in  the  house.  Let 
your  light  so  shine  before  men,  that  they  may  see  your  good  works,  and 
glorify  your  Father  which  is  in  heaven. 

PRAYER. 
Rev.  Charles  M.  Lamson. 

Eternal  Father:  In  these  days  of  grateful  and  happy  memory,  may  we 
confess  Thee,  thy  boundless  wisdom,  thine  infinite  might,  thy  protecting  care. 
Trusting  in  Thee  our  Fathers  did  their  work,  suffering  patiently,  warring 
valiantly,  that  they  might  leave  to  us  a  heritage  of  truth  and  life.  May  we 
remember  and  imitate  their  loyalty  to  God,  that  our  liberty  may  be  pure,  our 
prosperity  just,  and  our  work  worthy  to  become  a  gift  to  our  children. 

Bless  thou  the  city  in  which  we  dwell,  and  it  shall  be  blessed.  May  it 
remain  a  city  of  homes ;  may  all  in  the  spirit  of  charity  labor  for  its  honor 
and  through  this  for  its  good  fortune,  that  it  may  become  a  city  with  founda- 
tions, whose  God  is  the  Lord,  to  the  glory  of  the  great  name,  Jesus  Christ. 
Amen. 

The  Mayor  as  presiding  officer  delivered  the  following 
address,  after  which  he  read  selections  from  letters  received 
by  the  Committee  of  Invitation,  which  are  given  in  full  in 
preceding  pages. 


MAYOR   REED'S   ADDRESS. 


Fellow-citizens: — As  long  ago  as  1668,  the  Com- 
mittee appointed  by  the  Court  to  view  a  new  plantation 
near  Quinsigamond  ponds,  reported  that  it  contained 
"  a  tract  of  very  good  chestnut  tree  land,  and  that  there 
may  be  enough  meadow  land  for  a  small  town  of  about 
30  familys,  and  if  certain  grants  of  farms  were  annexed 
it  may  supply  60  familys/'  This  plantation  is  now 
called  Worcester. 

It  was  first  settled  in  1674,  abandoned  during  King 
Philip's  war  in  1675,  and  re-settled  in  1684.  Previous 
to  October  15th  of  that  year  the  settlement  was  called 
Quinsigamon.  We  date  the  foundation  of  our  city,  as 
a  settlement,  from  the  day  of  its  naming  by  the  Court 
of  Assistants  under  petition  October  15th,  1684. 

Abandoned  again  in  1702,  during  Queen  Anne's  war, 
it  was  permanently  re-settled  in  1713,  and  was  incor- 
porated a  Town  in  1722,  with  about  300  inhabitants. 

At  the  organization  of  Worcester  County  in  1731,  it 
was  made  a  shire  town,  and  was  chartered  as  a  City  in 
1848,  having  17,000  inhabitants,  with  a  valuation  of 
eleven  millions.  It  contains  within  its  limits  about  36 
square  miles,  and  at  this  time  it  has  a  valuation  of 
nearly  fifty-one  millions,  with  about  70,000  inhabitants. 
It  is  not  wealth  or  numbers   alone  that  constitute  the 


38  BI-CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

glory  of  our  beloved  city.  She  has  taken  an  active 
part  in  the  great  political  events  of  the  past,  and  by  her 
public  representative  men,  both  native  and  adopted,  has 
done  her  part  in  shaping  the  policy  of  the  State.  Her 
citizens  have  ever  been  found  in  the  front  rank  in 
defence  of  Free  Speech,  freedom  of  thought,  and  liberty 
for  the  oppressed  wherever  found;  always  exerting  an 
influence  far  beyond  that  indicated  by  numbers. 

In  the  stirring  events  that  preceded  the  Revolution, 
upon  the  great  questions  of  those  early  days,  Worcester 
took  no  mean  part.  In  1774  her  representatives  at  the 
General  Court  were  instructed  "  to  exert  themselves  to 
see  that  all  officers  should  depend  upon  the  suffi-ages  of 
the  people  for  their  existence  as  officers."  At  a  conven- 
tion held  here  in  June,  1775,  this  resolution  was  passed  ; 
"  That  we  abhor  the  enslaving  of  any  of  the  human 
race,  and  particularly  of  the  negroes  in  this  country, 
and  that  whenever  there  shall  be  a  door  opened,  or 
opportunity  present  for  anything  to  be  done  towards 
the  emancipation  of  the  negroes,  we  will  use  our  influ- 
ence and  endeavor  that  such  a  thing  may  be  brought 
about."  The  sentiments  expressed  in  this  resolution, 
more  than  one  hundred  years  ago,  have  ever  been 
those  of  Worcester,  and  when,  in  1854,  the  slave-hunter 
visited  Worcester,  his  reception  was  such  that  no  second 
attempt  to  return  the  poor  fugitive  into  slavery  was 
ever  made. 

In  the  late  great  war  for  the  defence  of  the  princi- 
ples of  free  government  and  that  the  whole  people 
might   be  free,   our   native-born   and   adopted   citizens 


MAYOR'S  ADDRESS.  39 

stood  shoulder  to  shoulder,  with  one  mind,  one  purpose, 
laying  down  their  lives  for  the  equality  of  all  and  the 
preservation  of  the  Union. 

Our  fathers  having  made  provision  for  the  church 
and  ministry,  next  set  apart  land  for  the  maintenance  of 
the  schools,  and  the  temples  of  religion  and  learning 
have  taken  the  place  of  the  wigwam  of  the  Indian.  As 
a  town,  the  system  of  free  schools  was  established  and 
encouraged  ;  here,  in  the  days  of  his  youth,  John 
Adams,  the  second  President  of  the  United  States, 
taught  the  grammar  school.  The  system  of  graded 
schools  had  its  origin  in  Worcester, 

At  the  inauguration  of  the  first  Mayor  of  this  City, 
the  Hon.  Levi  Lincoln,  he  said:  "Let  there  be  no 
neglect,  no  indifference,  no  remissness  in  attention  to 
the  first  of  all  public  objects,  the  education  of  the  youth 
of  this  city."  The  school  census  shows  that  at  May 
1st,  1884,  the  whole  number  of  children  of  the  city,  five 
to  15  years  of  age,  was  12,881.  The  number  of  pupils 
in  the  public  schools  was  10,000  ;  number  of  schools, 
233,  with  250  teachers.  The  City  has  ever  maintained 
a  liberal  policy  in  her  school  system  ;  we  point  with 
pride  to  the  educational  advantages  of  Worcester  as 
being  unsurpassed  by  those  of  any  city  in  the  Union. 

One  of  the  features  of  our  City  is  our  Free  Public 
Library  of  over  60,000  volumes,  selected  with  regard  to 
the  wants  of  this  community,  and  with  no  dead  wood 
upon  its  shelves ;  so  admirably  conducted  that  its 
methods  have  attracted  attentijon  not  only  in  this 
country,  but  abroad.     Under  these  methods  has  grown 


40  BI-CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

the  great  use  of  the  library  for  school  purposes.  Gen- 
eral Eaton,  the  United  States  Commissioner  of  Educa- 
tion, says  of  the  Worcester  Free  Public  Library,  that 
in  our  city  greater  aid  is  rendered  the  schools  by  the 
library  than  in  any  other  city  in  the  country. 

The  growth  of  Worcester  has  been  sound  and 
healthy.  Its  business  enterprises  are  under  the  manage- 
ment of  resident  owners,  intensely  loyal  to  the  city. 
The  variety  of  employments  are  so  great  that  there  has 
never  been,  nor  can  there  be,  an  entire  overthrow  of 
business  in  years  of  depression.  We  have  a  large 
number  of  adopted  citizens,  and  both  native  and 
adopted  are  industrious  and  frugal,  laying  aside  their 
earnings,  until  of  the  entire  deposits  held  in  the  savings 
banks  of  the  State  more  than  one-fourteenth  is  held  in 
Worcester. 

Worcester  has  always  been  rich  in  cultivated  brains, 
rare  mechanical  skill  and  business  energy.  A  city  of 
manufactures  of  great  variety  ;  our  leading  industries 
are  the  manufacture  of  wire,  employing  4,000  workmen, 
with  an  annual  product  of  $8,000,000  ;  boots  and  shoes, 
with  1,500  workmen  and  an  annual  product  of  nearly 
$6,000,000  ;  woolen  interests,  with  800  hands,  annual 
product  over  $3,000,000  ;  three  loom  estabUshments, 
with  800  men,  annual  product  .^^2,000,000 ;  machinery 
and  tools,  with  1,500  men,  annual  product  $3,250,000  ; 
musical  wares,  with  1,000  operatives,  annual  product 
$1,500,000  ;  envelopes,  of  which  3,000,000  are  manu- 
factured daily,  at  a  valuation  of  $1,000,000  per  annum; 
while    firearms,    corsets,    belting,    and    roller    and    ice 


MAYOR'S  ADDRESS.  41 

skates,  together,  employ  1,500  operatives,  with  an 
annual  product  of  over  |2,000,000. 

We  have  prospered  because  we  have  made  the  most 
of  our  opportunities.  Our  citizens,  both  native  and 
adopted,  have  a  firm  belief  in  Worcester  and  its  future 
growth  and  development.  We  are  now  the  second  city 
in  the  Commonwealth  ;  what  the  limit  of  our  population 
is  to  be  no  one  can  foretell. 

Surrounded  by  beautiful  hills  and  pleasant  valleys, 
with  a  water  supply  by  gravitation  from  sources  that 
are  comparatively  inexhaustible  and  of  undoubted 
purity,  by  their  location  absolutely  free  from  any  possi- 
ble present  or  future  defilement  by  drainage  or  sewage, 
with  a  pressure  so  great  that  all  parts  of  the  city  are 
fully  protected  against  the  ravages  of  fire  ;  with  an 
extensive  system  of  sewers  now  nearly  completed  ; 
located  as  we  are  in  the  centre  of  the  State,  a  railroad 
centre  with  ready  communication  with  all  parts  of  the 
country,  with  but  little  more  than  one  hour's  ride  by 
either  of  two  separate  lines  to  the  seaboard,  no  inland 
city  can  ofter  greater  inducements  to  mechanics  or 
manufacturers  as  a  location  for  their  business  than 
Worcester.  With  less  poverty  and  misery  than  any 
city  of  our  size  ;  with  State  institutions  of  great  extent 
and  importance  ;  hospitals  for  the  care  of  the  sick 
and  injured  ;  College,  Free  Institute,  Military  School, 
Antiquarian,  charitable,  literary,  and  scientific  institu- 
tions, and  societies  ;  churches  of  all  sects  and  denomi- 
nations ;  this  spacious  Mechanics  Hall,  with  its  national 
reputation    as    a   favorite   hall  for   conventions  ;   good 

4 


42  BI-CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

streets  and  roads  abounding  in  beautiful  drives  ;  free 
from  malaria,  a  clean,  wholesome  city  ;  the  result  of 
location,  frugality  and  intelligence  combined  with  the 
moral  and  religious  principles  planted  here  by  the 
early  settlers  —  we  may  anticipate  a  continual  increase 
in  numbers  and  prosperity,  and  in  the  enjoyment  of  the 
blessings  which  good  government  and  free  institutions 
alone  can  give. 


The  address  of  the  Mayor  was  followed  by  the  singing  by 
the  Double  Male  Quartette  of  John  Pierpont's  "Anniversary 
Ode." 

Hon.  George  F.  Hoar  was  then  introduced  as  Orator  of  the 
Evening,  and  spoke  as  follows  : — 


MR.    HOAR'S  ADDRESS. 


I  am,  this  evening,  but  a  voice.  As  we  strive  to 
clasp  the  two  hands  which  seem  to  stretch  out  to  us, 
on  either  side,  through  the  mist, —  the  hand  of  our 
ancestry,  and  the  hand  of  our  posterity, —  I  can  only 
imperfectly  utter  what  is  in  the  bosoms  of  all  of  you. 

The  hour  is  consecrated  to  simple  and  common 
emotions ;  and  yet  to  the  emotions  which  most  dignify 
and  ennoble  human  life.  The  imperfect  instinct  of 
affection  for  parent  and  offspring,  which  nature  has 
given  to  the  brute,  is  confined  to  the  period  of  infancy. 
In  man,  it  becomes  parental  love  and  filial  reverence. 
It  is  the  tie  that  binds  us  together  in  the  household. 
It  extends  beyond  the  grave,  and  reaches  back  to 
remote  ancestors.  It  goes  out  with  unspeakable  yearn- 
ing even  to  the  soil  where  the  ashes  of  those  we  have 
loved  repose.  It  impels  us  to  seek,  with  those  who  are 
our  kindred,  a  companionship,  even  in  death.  "  Where 
the  heart  has  laid  down  what  it  loved  most,"  says  the 
greatest  of  'New  England  orators,  "there  it  is  desirous 
of  laying  itself  down.  No  sculptured  marble,  no 
enduring  monument,  no  honorable  inscription,  no  ever- 
burning taper  that  would  drive  away  the  darkness  of 
the  tomb,  can  soften  our  sense  of  the  reality  of  death, 
and  hallow  to  our  feelings  the  ground  which  is  to  cover 


44  BI-CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

US,  like  the  consciousness  that  we  shall  sleep,  dust  to 
dust,  with  the  objects  of  our  affections."  But  human 
love  rises  to  its  highest  dignity,  and  reaches  its  pro- 
foundest  depth  of  tenderness,  when  its  object  is  that 
political  being  to  which  we  give  the  endearing  name  of 
country,  or  the  town  which  is  our  birthplace,  or  the 
city  which  we  fondly  call  our  home.  There  are  men  in 
this  audience  whose  blood  would  fly  to  their  cheeks  at 
the  charge  that  some  little  town,  where  they  were  born, 
had  committed  an  act  of  dishonor  two  hundred  years 
ago,  as  if  the  imputation  were  upon  one  of  their  own 
kindred  to-day.  What  tones  of  triumph  and  joy  stir 
the  heart  like  those  which  celebrate  our  country's  glory? 
What  note  of  sorrow  comes  down  through  the  ages 
like  theirs  who  wept  when  they  remembered  Zion? 

I  cannot,  with  the  limits  of  this  address,  give  in 
detail  the  history  of  Worcester  for  two  hundred  years. 
That  has  been  done,  in  part,  by  an  eminent  scholar, 
whose  family  name  has  been  honorably  identified  with 
this  community  for  more  than  a  century.  Our  learned 
and  famous  society,  whose  early  labors  attracted  the 
attention  and  interest  of  Humboldt,  which  has  thrown 
so  much  light  upon  the  antiquities  of  the  continent,  has 
not  altogether  neglected  those  specially  belonging  to 
the  locality  of  its  habitation.  A  younger  association  of 
investigators,  the  Society  of  Antiquity,  will  leave  no 
field  of  local  interest  unexplored.  I  content  myself 
with  an  estimate  of  some  of  the  moral  forces  which 
have  determined  the  history  of  this  community,  and 
with  considering,  briefly,  what  ground  we  can  find  of 


MR.  HOAR'S  ADDRESS.  45 

rational  cheerfulness   and   hope,  in  contemplating   the 
future. 

After  the  settlement  of  a  few  towns  on  the  coast,  in 
the  first  half  of  the  17th  century,  the  rich  interval  of 
the  Connecticut  attracted  the  eyes  of  the  planters  of 
'New  England.  Midway  between  the  sea  and  the  river, 
the  margin  of  our  beautiful  lake  afforded  a  convenient 
stopping-place.  This  lake  was  well  known  to  the 
Indians  by  the  name  Quansigemog  —  "fishing  place  for 
pickerel," — Quonosuog  was  the  Indian  name  for  "long- 
nose,"  or  pickerel;  and  amaug  denoted  a  fishing-place.^ 
In  1667,  the  General  Court  appointed  a  committee  to 
"  take  an  exact  view,"  and  report  "  whether  the  place 
be  capable  to  make  a  village,  and  what  number  of 
families  they  conceive  may  be  there  accommodated." 
The  next  year  the  committee  return  that  they  have 
viewed  the  place,  that  it  contains  a  tract  of  very  good 
chestnut  land,  and  that  there  may  be  enough  meadow 
for  a  small  plantation,  or  town  of  about  thirty  families; 


II  am  permitted  to  annex  the  following  letter  from  the  eminent  antiquary  and 
scholar,  J.  Hammond  Trumbull,  Esq.,  of  Hartford,  Conn.  His  authority  is  the 
highest  in  the  country  on  all  matters  i-elating  to  the  language  of  the  North  American 
Indians,  and  is  decisive  of  this  question  :— 

Hartford,  September  2, 1884. 
My  Dear  Mr.  Hoar: 

'•  Quims\gamang  Pond"  is  so  named  in  Mass.  Records,  iv.  (2), 
p.  Ill;  and  as  "  Quansicawi^,"  same  vol.,  p.  293;  "  Quansicfflmo?i^."  p.  307:  and 
"  Quansica97ion,"  p.  341,—  whence  by  easy  transition  came  the  modern  form,  Quinsig- 
amond.  President  Stiles,  who  had  "a  good  ear  for  Indian  names,  wrote  this,  in  his 
Itinerary, "  Quonsigeniog." 

Qunnosu  or  Qunnnns>^  (plural  Qunnosuog)  was  the  Indian  name  for  pickerel  — 
literally  "long  nose:"  and  -amaug  final,  denotes  a  'fishing  place.'  Qunnosuog- 
amavg  is  "  pickerel  fishing-place,"  or  "  where  they  fish  for  pickerel." 

I  have  indicated  the  composition  of  this  name,  in  my  paper  on  Algonkin  place 
names  in  Coll.  Conn.  Hist.  Society,  ii.,  18,— though  without  mention  of  these  early 
forms  of  the  name. 

Very  truly  yours, 

J.  H.  TRUMBULL. 


46  BI-CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

that,  if  certain  grants  which  the  Court  has  made  to  the 
church  of  Maiden  and  others  be  recalled,  and  annexed 
to  it,  it  may  supply  about  sixty  families.  They  there- 
fore conceive  it  expedient  that  it  be  reserved  for  a 
town,  and  land  about  eight  miles  square  be  laid  out  in 
the  best  form  the  place  will  bear. 

The  General  Court  adopted  these  recommendations. 
The  committee  were  authorized  to  order  and  manage 
the  new  plantation.  The  Indian  title  was  extinguished, 
and  honorably  paid  for.  A  fort  was  erected.  As  early 
as  1673,  the  work  of  settlement  began  with  some  vigor. 
But  Philip's  war  broke  out  in  1675.  Brookfield,  Men- 
don,  Lancaster,  and  Westborough,  were  our  nearest 
neighbors,  the  three  former  being  our  sole  barrier 
against  the  Indian  wilderness.  Lancaster  and  Brook- 
field  were  utterly  destroyed,  and  Mendon  abandoned. 
The  planters  here  deserted  their  possessions  and  dis- 
persed among  the  larger  towns.  On  the  2d  of  Decem- 
ber, 1675,  the  Indians  destroyed  the  little  village  of  six 
or  seven  houses,  all  that  then  existed  of  Quinsigamond. 

The  war  ended  with  the  death  of  Philip,  August  12th, 
1676.  The  broken  remnant  of  the  Indians  submitted 
to  the  power  of  the  colony.  The  proprietors  and  the 
committee  soon  renewed  their  scheme  for  settlement. 
A  meeting  of  proprietors  was  had  in  Cambridge,  in 
1678,  a  survey  made  in  1683,  and  an  agreement  entered 
into  April  24,  1684,  to  regulate  the  settlement,  then 
fairly  in  progress. 

The  General  Court,  at  a  session  begun  October  15th, 
1684,   granted   the    request    of  the    committee,  Daniel 


MR.  HOAR'S  ADDRESS.  47 

Gookin,  Daniel  Henchman,  and  Thomas  Prentice,  that 
their  plantation  at  Quinsigamond  be  called  Worcester.^ 
This  has  been  commonly  supposed  to  have  been  in. 
honor  of  the  city  of  Worcester  in  England.  We  might 
well  account  it  an  honor  to  be  the  namesake  of  that 
beautiful  town  upon  the  Severn,  the  "  civitas  in 
hello  et  in  pace  fidelis.''^  Mr.  Whitmore,  in  his  essay 
on  the  names  of  towns,  in  the  Proceedings  of  the 
Massachusetts  Historical  Society,  for  February  11th, 
1873,  says  there  is  a  tradition  that  the  name  was  given 
by  the  committee  to  commemorate  the  battle  of  Worces- 
ter, the  "  crowning  mercy  "  where  Cromwell  shattered 
the  forces  of  Charles  2d,  and  as  a  defiance  to  the 
Stuarts.  I  do  not  know  the  source  or  the  antiquity  of 
this  tradition.  But  it  is  not  without  probability. 
There  is  no  reason  to  think  that  either  of  the  staunch 
old  Puritans  who  composed  the  committee,  had  the 
slightest  connection  with  the  city  or  shire  of  Worcester. 
Prentice  is  believed  by  his  descendants  to  have  learned 
the  art  of  war  under  Cromwell.  Gookin  was  its  most 
important  member.     He  may  be  called  the  founder  of 

1  The  limited  time  allowed,  for  the  preparation  of  this  address  made  it  necessarily 
extremely  imperfect.  One  defect,  of  which  the  author  is  especially  sensible,  is  the 
omission  of  any  mention  of  Ephraim  Curtis.  He  is  entitled  to  be  honored  as  the  first 
settler  of  Worcester,  notwithstanding  the  late  discovery  that  a  rude  house  had  been 
built  here  prior  to  his  settlement.  It  is  clear  that  the  owner  of  the  house  did  not 
occupy  it.  What  sort  of  a  house  it  was,  whether  it  was  built  for  the  surveyors, 
or  for  the  committee  who  inspected  the  place  to  determine  its  fitness  for  habita- 
tion, or  as  a  shelter  for  travellers  on  their  way  to  the  Connecticut,  does  not 
appear.  But  it  is  unlikely  that  any  permanent  settler  would  have  dwelt  there  with- 
out leaving  some  trace  of  himself  in  the  cotemporary  record.  Curtis  represented  an 
element  which  has  not  received  full  justice  from  New  England  history,— the  brave 
and  adventurous  frontiersman.  His  exploit  in  saving  the  besieged  garrison  of 
Brookfield  equals  anything  Cooper  has  imagined  of  the  Leatherstocking. 

His  descendants,  a  highly  respected  family,  bearing  his  name,  still  dwell  on  the 
spot  where  he  settled.  He  was  the  ancestor,  also,  of  the  famous  and  eloquent  orator, 
George  William  Curtis. 


48  BI-CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

Worcester.  He  was  the  major-general  of  the  colony. 
He  is,  to  me,  with  the  possible  exception  of  John 
"Winthrop,  the  most  attractive  character  in  our  colonial 
history.  His  great  qualities  have  never  yet  received 
their  due  from  historians.  He  was  the  companion  and 
protector  of  the  regicides  Goffe  and  Whalley,  on  the 
one  hand,  and  an  earnest  advocate  for  justice  to  the 
Indians  on  the  other.  Goife  and  Whalley  came  over 
in  the  same  ship  with  him  in  1G60.  While  the  found- 
ing of  Worcester  was  in  progress,  they  were  dwelling 
at  Hadley,  in  a  hiding  place  of  which  he  knew  the 
secret.  Whalley  was  own  cousin  of  both  Cromwell 
and  Hampden.  He  had  beaten  Prince  Rupert  at 
IvTaseby,  and  led  the  horse  in  the  army  which  compelled 
him  to  the  surrender  of  Bristol.  The  loyalists  of  the 
English  Worcester  surrendered  that  city  to  him  in 
1643. 

Gookin  did  not  live  long  enough  to  take  up  his 
abode  here.  But  his  footsteps  have  been  upon  our 
fields.  He  watched  over  Worcester  in  its  cradle,  until 
his  death.  I  hope  his  statue  may  some  day  grace  our 
city.  He  was  an  old  Kentish  soldier,  and  had  been  the 
personal  and  highly  trusted  friend  of  the  great  Protec- 
tor, who, 

•'  Guided  by  faith  and  matchless  fortitude, 
To  peace  and  truth  his  glorious  way  had  ploughed, 
And  on  the  neck  of  crowned  fortune  proud 
Had  reared  God's  trophies,  and  his  work  pursued, 
While  Darweu  stream,  with  blood  of  Scots  imbrued. 
And  Dunbar  field,  resound  his  praises  loud. 

And  Worcester's  laureate  ui7-eath." 

The  year  of  which  we  are  speaking  was  the  year  of 
the  most  serious  attempt  ever  made  upon  the  liberties 


MR.  HOAR'S  ADDRESS.  49 

of  Massachusetts.  The  mtelligence  of  the  fraudulent 
judgment  in  the  English  chancery,  vacating  her  char- 
ter, reached  Boston  on  the  10th  September.  This  was 
the  darkest  day  in  the  annals  of  the  Commonwealth. 
This  decree  placed  under  the  feet  of  the  Stuarts  again 
the  liberties  which  our  Fathers  had  dwelt  sixty  years  in 
the  wilderness  to  maintain.  For  a  good  while,  in  expec- 
tation of  this  judgment,  the  hearts  of  the  people  had 
been  deeply  stirred.  In  January  before.  Increase 
Mather,  President  of  the  College,  had  made  a  speech  in 
Boston  town-meeting,  against  a  proposition  not  to  con- 
tend with  his  Majesty  in  a  course  of  law,  for  the  defence 
of  the  charter.  "  What  the  Lord  our  God  hath  given 
us,"  said  he,  "  shall  we  not  possess  it  ?  God  forbid,  that 
we  should  give  away  the  inheritance  of  our  Fathers. 
The  loyal  citizens  of  London  would  not  surrender  their 
charter,  lest  their  posterity  should  curse  them  for  it. 
Shall  we  do  such  a  thing  ?  I  hope  there  is  not  one 
freeman  in  Boston  that  can  be  guilty  of  it."  The 
people  fell  into  tears,  and  cried  "  It  is  better  if  we  must 
die,  to  die  by  the  hands  of  others,  than  by  our  own." 
I  think  we  are  well  justified  in  believing  that  it  was  the 
memory  of  the  great  victory  for  civil  and  religious 
liberty  which  God  had  vouchsafed  to  the  Puritan  over 
Charles  Stuart,  and  not  of  the  loyalty  to  the  throne 
which  was  the  great  distinction  of  the  English  city, 
that  the  three  stout  soldiers  of  the  committee  desired  to 
perpetuate. 

The  settlement  was  destined  to  be  broken  up  again. 
In  1696,  a  band  of  hostile  Albany  or  Western  Indians 


50  BI-CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

penetrated  as  far  as  Worcester.  When  Queen  Anne's 
war  broke  out  in  1702,  the  inhabitants  again  fled. 
Digory  Sargent,  who  refused  to  abandon  his  dwelling, 
was  slain  with  his  wife,  and  his  five  children  carried 
captive  to  Canada.  The  town  was  re-occupied  in  1713, 
which  is  the  date  of  its  permanent  settlement.  It  was 
incorporated  as  a  town,  June  14th,  1722.  The  first 
town  meeting  was  held,  September  28th,  1722.  It  held 
its  place  among  the  towns  of  the  Commonwealth,  until 
the  incorporation  of  the  city,  February  29th,  1848. 

Such,  fellow-citizens,  the  birth,  and  such  the  baptism, 
of  the  heroic  child.  Let  us  see  of  what  lineage  he 
came,  what  blood  was  in  his  veins,  who  stood  about 
his  cradle,  in  what  gymnasium  he  was  trained,  what 
great  beliefs  he  inherited,  what  creed  he  was  taught, 
what  alliances,  what  friendships  he  has  made  ;  —  that  he 
has  been  able  to  take  his  place  among  giants  ;  to  be  a 
leader,  and  a  companion  of  leadei's,  in  great  victories  in 
war,  and  greater  victories  in  peace  ;  that  his  fields  and 
gardens,  to-day,  are  teeming  with  fruit,  and  corn,  and 
flowers  ;  that  the  labor  of  the  whole  world,  two  hundred 
years  ago,  could  not  create,  its  fancy  could  scarce  con- 
ceive, this  single  day's  product  of  his  factories  and 
workshops.  "The  Lord  found  him  in  a  desert  land, 
and  in  the  waste  howling  wilderness  ;  he  led  him  about, 
he  instructed  him,  he  kept  him  as  the  apple  of  his  eye  ; 
he  made  him  ride  on  the  high  places  of  the  earth,  that 
he  might  eat  the  increase  of  the  fields." 

The  first  settlers  were  of  pure  English  blood.  They 
had   inherited   the    Norseman's    hunger  for  adventure, 


MR.  HOAR'S  ADDRESS.  51 

which  found  satisfaction  in  forest  and  in  sea,  and  the 
Saxon  love  of  local  self-government,  which  resulted  in 
the  institution  of  the  town. 

Excej^t  Holland,  and  Switzerland,  which  together 
contained,  at  that  time,  I  suppose,  a  population  scarcely 
greater  than  that  of  Massachusetts  to-day,  there  was 
no  spot  on  earth,  except  England,  whose  government 
was  free,  or  recognized  any  popular  rights. 

In  England,  the  long  battle  seemed  going  against 
liberty.  The  great  company  that  had  surrounded  Crom- 
well were  dead,  or  in  hiding,  or  in  exile.  Puritanism 
seemed  to  have  spent  itself  as  a  force  in  England,  and 
had  crossed  the  sea.  But  the  love  of  liberty,  not  a 
mere  freedom  from  restraint,  but  a  liberty  secured  and 
guarded  by  permanent  institutions,  was  the  master 
passion  of  the  English  race.  The  first  half  of  the 
seventeenth  century,  which  was  the  period  of  New 
England  colonization,  was  the  time  when  the  thoughts 
of  the  whole  English  people  had  been  turned  to  a 
discussion  of  the  principles  of  government.  The  intel- 
lectual activity,  which  in  the  time  of  Elizabeth,  which 
preceded,  and  that  of  Anne  which  followed,  produced  a 
literature  never  equalled  but  in  Athens,  found  occupa- 
tion in  dealing  with  the  great  questions  which  lie  at  the 
foundation  of  states.  The  men  who  came  here,  there- 
fore, were  ready  for  the  framing  of  constitutions  and 
statutes.  The  simple  and  perfect  mechanism  of  town 
and  parish  was  as  natural  to  them  as  the  building  it's 
nest  to  a  bird. 

But  the  liberty  which  our  Fathers  brought  with  them 


52  BI-CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

from  England  differed  in  one  essential  particular  from 
that  which  they  left  behind.  In  England,  that  love  had 
been,  in  the  main,  a  purely  selfish  passion.  The  Eng- 
lishman had  demanded  freedom  as  a  privilege  for 
himself,  or  his  class.  The  contest  for  political  or  civil 
rights  had  been  always  a  strife  of  classes.  At  one 
time,  it  was  the  crown  against  the  nobles.  At  another, 
it  was  the  nobles  against  the  crown.  At  another,  it 
was  Becket,  the  churchman  of  humble  origin  and 
popular  sympathies,  against  king  and  noble.  It  is,  I 
believe,  true  that  no  class  in  England  ever  got  its  right 
from  the  sense  of  justice  of  any  other.  Her  freedom, 
as  it  broadened  slowly  down,  has  ever  been  wrung  by 
violence  or  threats  from  the  fears  of  her  rulers.  With 
all  her  great  qualities,  she  has  had  a  limited  and  insular 
moral  law.  She  has  ever  been  a  tyrant  and  a  ruflian  in 
her  dealings  with  weaker  nations.  This  trait  has  not 
wholly  failed  to  manifest  itself  in  her  descendants  here. 
We  have  not  seemed  to  be  quite  able  to  get  the  Eng- 
lishman out  of  our  blood.  Our  moral  sense  sometimes 
fails  when  we  come  to  deal  with  other  races  or  humbler 
classes  than  our  own.  But  the  religion  of  the  Puritan 
was  one  which  he  believed  was  a  I'ule  for  his  conduct 
m  the  things  which  pertained  to  this  life,  as  well  as 
that  beyond.  He  brought  to  the  government  of  the 
state  the  austere  sense  of  religious  and  moral  obliga- 
tion. However  he  may  have  sometimes  failed  in  the 
application  of  the  principle,  justice  was  to  him  not  only 
a  right  of  his  own,  but  a  duty  to  others.  The  condi- 
tions   of  his    existence,    the  necessity   of  the    constant 


MR.  HOAR'S  ADDRESS.  53 

labor  of  every  man  in  clearing  the  wilderness,  made 
class  distinctions  impossible.  The  contest  between 
these  two  spirits,  which  we  are  wont  to  term  the 
Cavalier  and  the  Puritan,  has  played  a  great  part  in 
our  national  and  local  history.  It  is  by  no  means  yet 
over.  But  the  Puritan  spirit  and  faith,  which  founded 
Worcester,  two  hundred  years  ago,  have,  in  the  main 
controlled  the  currents  of  her  history. 

But  let  us,  in  all  this,  be  just  to  England.  We  have 
this  treasure  in  earthen  vessels.  Whatever  cause  of 
complaint  we  have  of  her,  let  us  not  forget,  that  the 
only  plant  of  liberty,  that,  in  modern  times,  has  lived, 
and  grown,  and  taken  root,  has  come  from  her.  Cruel 
nurse  though  she  was,  our  Fathers  drew  from  her 
bosom  the  courage  with  which  they  resisted  her. 

strong  mother  of  a  Lion-liue, 
Be  pi'oud  of  those  strong  sons  of  thine. 
Who  wrenched  then-  rights  from  thee. 

What  wonder,  if.  in  noble  heat. 

Those  men  thine  arms  withstood, 
Retaught  the  lesson  thou  hadst  taught, 
And  in  thy  spirit  with  thee  fought, 

Who  sprang  from  English  blood. 

Whatever  harmonies  of  law 

The  growing  world  assume, 
Thy  work  is  thine  —  The  single  note. 
From  that  deep  chord  which  Hampden  smote, 

Will  vibrate  to  the  doom. 

As  I  just  said,  the  condition  of  existence  in  the 
wilderness  and  the  need  of  constant  and  strenuous 
personal  exertion  made  class  distinctions  impossible. 
The  Puritan's  faith,  which  was  based  on  reverence 
for  the  individual  soul,  taught  a  doctrine  of  equality, 
which  his  situation  rendered  it  easy  to  accept  in  prac- 


54  BI-CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

tice.  This  condition  also  begat  another  sentiment,  or 
rather,  another  principle,  which  has  been  preserved  in 
undiminished  vigor  to  our  own  day,  and  which  has  done 
much  to  give  direction  to  our  history.  That  is  the 
principle  which  honors  labor.  This  community  has 
never  respected  an  idler,  whether  he  were  rich  or  poor. 
The  capacity  to  labor  was  the  chief  and  most  valued 
possession  of  our  ancestors :  and  the  disposition  to  labor 
took  a  high  rank  among  the  virtues. 

From  the  reverence  for  the  individual  soul,  and  the 
doctrine  of  equality  which  was  its  offspring,  came, 
naturally,  the  institutions  of  education,  and  the  laws 
regulating  the  descent  and  disposition  of  property. 
The  doctrine  was  early  announced  that  the  whole  prop- 
erty of  the  state  is  bound  to  educate  all  the  children  of 
the  state  ;  and  it  is  as  firmly  settled  as  any  constitu- 
tional principle  whatever. 

Human  nature  has  its  course  here  as  elsewhere. 
With  the  increase  of  wealth  and  the  holding  of  neces- 
sary public  office  there  grew  up,  before  the  Revolution, 
a  sort  of  gentry,  for  whom  the  manners  and  opinions 
of  their  class  in  England  had  some  attraction.  Copley's 
pictures  and  family  tradition  shew  some  tendency  to 
luxury  in  dress  and  manners.  But  the  plain  fashions 
and  simple  manners  of  a  frontier  agricultural  people 
prevailed  in  Worcester  as  elsewhere.  The  upper  class 
was  easily  entered  and  easily  left. 

Next  in  importance  to  the  provision  for  universal 
education  was  the  policy  of  the  law  which  constantly 
favored  the  division  and  subdivision  of  estates.      The 


MR.  HOAR'S  ADDRESS.  55 

slight  preference  given  to  tlie  eldest  son,  the  only 
remnant  of  that  doctrine  of  primogeniture  which  lies  at 
the  foundation  of  the  institutions  of  England,  was  soon 
abolished.  Estates  were  divided  equally  among  sons 
and  daughters.  All  property  was  made  liable  for  debt. 
A  simple  form  of  conveyance  was  devised.  Long 
trusts  and  entails  were  almost  unknown  ;  and  as  soon 
as  they  began  to  be  known  legal  methods  were  devised 
to  avoid  them. 

It  was  also  the  good  fortune  of  this  community  that  it 
belonged  to  a  commonwealth  composed  of  a  people  like 
itself.  It  was  not,  as  Ireland  to  England,  tied  to  an  alien 
government  and  an  alien  race  ;  so  that  its  own  great 
qualities  had  full  opportunity  for  free  and  fair  growth. 

Such  were  the  birth  and  origin  of  our  city.  Such 
were  the  influences  that  surrounded  its  cradle.  Such 
was  the  faith  instilled  into  its  childhood.  We  find 
Worcester  purchased  of  the  Indians,  permanently 
settled,  its  name  a  monument  to  a  great  victory  for 
civil  and  religious  freedom,  peopled  by  men  who  feared 
God,  who  loved  liberty,  who  honored  labor,  who 
inherited  a  passion  for  adventure,  on  the  one  hand, 
and  the  sober,  restrained  habit  of  self-government,  on 
the  other,  to  whom  education  and  justice  were  the 
prime  necessities  of  life,  and  in  whose  eyes  every 
human  soul  was  the  equal  of  every  other,  before  God 
and  man.  Let  us  next  see  its  growth  ;  —  in  what 
school,  in  what  gymnasium,  it  was  trained  and  exer- 
cised, till  it  reached  the  full  measure  of  a  robust  and 
vigorous  manhood. 


56  BI-CENTENNIAL  CELEBKATION. 

Of  course,  the  religious  and  moral  influences  of  which 
I  have  spoken,  which  surrounded  Worcester,  at  its 
foundation,  continued  in  operation.  I  find,  in  addition, 
four  principal  influences  which  determined  the  character 
of  this  people  for  the  next  one  hundred  and  fifty  years. 

These  were:  —  Its  occupation;  The  education  and 
discipline  of  political  duties  ;  —  The  century-long 
struggle  with  England  ;  —  Its  military  history. 

For  more  than  a  century,  the  occupation  of  thi& 
community  was  chiefly  clearing  and  tilling  the  soil.  I 
could  state  nothing  not  familiar  to  my  audience,  if  I 
should  attempt  to  describe  the  farming  of  the  first 
century  after  the  settlement,  with  its  rude  and  clumsy 
implements,  or  contrast  it  with  the  cultivation  of  our 
fields  to-day  with  the  aid  of  modern  science,  machinery, 
and  docile  and  improved  breeds  of  cattle  and  horses ;  or 
with  those  wonderful  western  farms,  which  have  made  of 
the  American  farmer  a  merchant,  whose  competitor  is 
on  the  Ganges  and  the  Bosphorus.  But  no  human 
occupation  more  tends  to  bring  out  the  sterling  mental 
and  moral  qualities  than  that  of  the  farmer  in  a  new 
country.  There  were  but  734  persons,  of  our  population 
of  58,291,  engaged  in  agriculture  in  Worcester  in  1880. 
I  shall  not,  therefore,  be  suspected  of  a  desire  to  flatter, 
when  I  affirm,  as  the  result  of  a  large  experience,  the 
superiority  of  the  agricultural  class  over  any  other, 
taken  as  a  whole,  in  capacity  for  the  duties  of  citizen- 
ship, whether  as  voters,  jurors,  or  legislators.  In  our 
climate,  the  life  of  the  early  farmer  required  the  constant 
exercise  of  patience,  observation  of  natural  laws,  endur- 


ME.  HOAR'S  ADDRESS.  57 

ance,  industry.  Ownership  of  the  soil  brings  with  it 
the  habit  of  command,  and  of  self-respect.  The  N^ew 
England  farmer  has  ever  combined  a  character  cautious, 
slow,  conservative  in  the  ordinary  concerns  of  life,  with 
an  unmatched  rapidity  of  decision  and  promptness  of 
action  in  great  emergencies. 

The  res]3onsibilities  of  citizenship  also,  elevated  and 
ennobled  the  men  on  whose  shoulders  they  rested.  The 
townsmen  had  to  deal  with,  understand,  debate,  and 
decide  the  highest  questions  of  State.  At  least  four 
times  since  the  first  settlement — in  the  Pequot  War, 
King  Charles'  attempt  on  the  charter,  the  Revolution, 
the  Rebellion — has  the  very  life  of  the  State  been 
depending.  The  Constitution  of  the  United  States  was 
to  be  adopted  or  rejected.  Four  times  within  a  single 
century,  the  whole  principle  and  framework  of  the 
State  Constitution  were  under  discussion.  When  the 
Government  got  under  way,  our  relations  with  England, 
with  France,  and  later  with  Mexico,  the  annexation  of 
Louisiana  and  Texas,  the  wars  of  1812  and  1845,  the 
extension  of  our  dominion  over  California,  the  abolition 
of  slaver}^,  reconstruction,  the  establishment  and  pro- 
tection of  American  manufacture,  the  subtleties  of 
finance  and  currency, — upon  all  these,  beside  the  man- 
agement of  the  affairs  of  the  Commonwealth  and  the 
town,  the  individual  freeman  must  record  his  vote.  To 
understand  and  help  settle  these  questions  was  itself  a 
liberal  education. 

But   to   contend   with  forest,   with  sterile  soil,   and 

inhospitable  climate  was  not  enough.     A  race  of  boors 
5 


58  BI-CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

might  have  done  that,  and  remained  a  race  of  boors 
still.  In  common  with  the  people  of  the  rest  of  the  little 
Commonwealth  the  century-long  struggle  with  England 
had  its  great  influence  on  the  character  of  the  dwellers 
in  Worcester.  Many  of  them  must  have  well  known  in 
youth  the  first  settlers  of  Plymouth  and  Massachusetts 
who  came  over  between  1620  and  1640.  As  we  are 
reminded  by  a  great  IN^ew  England  scholar,  there  were 
not  ten  year^  together,  from  the  landing  at  Plymouth 
to  the  surrender  at  Yorktown,  "when  some  great  and 
sacred  right  of  our  Fathers  was  not  assailed  or  menaced 
by  the  government  of  England,  in  one  form  or  another." 
The  danger  from  that  mighty  power,  to  the  liberty  he 
or  his  fathers  had  come  into  the  wilderness  to  secure, 
was  scarcely  ever  out  of  the  mind  of  the  ^N^ew  England 
freeman,  as  he  sat  in  his  dwelling,  or  ploughed  his  field, 
or  took  council  with  his  fellows.  He  was  perpetually 
meditating  on  the  means  of  securing  it,  ready  to  defend 
it  in  argument,  or,  if  need  be,  to  die  for  it.  Constant 
meditation  of  such  a  theme  gave  him  dignity  and 
loftiness  of  character  and  bearing,  and  brought  him  to 
see  with  absolute  clearness  the  true  boundary  which 
separates  liberty  and  authority  in  a  State.  Hence  came 
to  our  ancestors  that  most  valuable  of  great  qualities 
which  make  the  temper  of  a  great  race — constancy.  It 
is  a  quality  worth  to  a  people  more  than  literature,  or 
art,  or  wealth,  or  peace.  They  learned  to  keep  before 
them  a  great  and  noble  public  object  through  years, 
through  generations,  through  centuries.  They  never 
were  turned  aside  from  it  by  what  was  personal,  or 


MR.  HOAR'S  ADDRESS.  59 

petty,  or  temporary.  May  God  grant  that  no  effemi- 
nacy of  riches,  that  no  sickly  or  selfish  culture  may 
destroy  it  in  the  hearts  of  their  descendants. 

This  sketch  would  be  incomplete,  without  speaking 
of  one  other  educating  force. 

The  civic  achievements  of  this  people  have  been 
such  that  we  have  not  been  accustomed  to  speak  of  them 
as  a  warlike  people.  Yet  the  history  of  Massachusetts 
has  been,  in  large  degree,  a  military  history.  In  every 
generation,  but  one,  she  has  gone  through  a  war  which 
has  tried  to  the  utmost  her  courage,  endurance,  and 
resources.  Yet  the  passion  for  military  glory  has 
never  been  characteristic  of  our  people.  American 
history  has  ever  most  delighted  to  dwell  on  the  civic 
virtues  of  our  military  heroes.  There  can  be  no 
greater  test,  or  greater  educator,  of  heroic  quality  in 
a  people  than  the  burden  of  a  righteous  war,  appeal- 
ing to  moral  and  patriotic  sentiments,  carried  through 
with  unflinching  constancy  to  final  triumph. 

Lord  Chatham  told  the  House  of  Lords  in  1777, — 
"  America  has  carried  you  through  four  wars,  and  will 
now  carry  you  to  your  death.  I  venture  to  tell  your 
Lordships  that  the  American  gentry  will  make  officers 
fit  to  command  the  troops  of  all  the  European  powers." 
"  It  is  not  in  Indian  wars,"  said  Fisher  Ames,  "  that 
heroes  are  celebrated  ;  but  it  is  there  they  are  formed." 
There  were  scarcely  ten  years  together,  from  the  first 
settlement,  till  the  conquest  of  Canada  in  the  war  which 
ended  in  1763,  when  a  Worcester  farmer  was  safe 
in  his  dwelling,  by  reason  of  the  danger  from  French 


60  BI-CENTENNIAL  CELEBEATION. 

or  Indian.  His  life  was  spent  under  arms.  Wor- 
cester had  her  full  quota  in  the  four  New  England 
regiments  which  captured  Louisburgh  from  the  vet- 
erans of  France.  From  a  population  of  1400,  she  sent 
more  than  five  hundred  men  into  the  campaigns  of  the 
ten  years  which  ended  in  1756.  She  had  her  full  share 
of  danger  and  glory  in  the  desperate  strife  of  eighty 
years,  until,  at  Quebec,  the  lilies  went  down  before 
the  lion,  never  again,  but  for  a  brief  period  in  Louisi- 
ana, to  float  as  an  emblem  of  dominion,  over  any  part 
of  the  continent  of  North  America.  Whatever  share 
others  may  have  taken,  the  glory  of  that  contest  is  the 
glory  of  Massachusetts  ;  that  victory  is  a  Massachu- 
setts victory. 

The  strife  with  France  over,  the  struggle  for  con- 
stitutional liberty  with  England  blazed  up  with  in- 
creased heat.  The  peace  of  1763  was  succeeded  by 
twelve  years  of  hollow  and  treacherous  truce.  The 
people  of  Worcester  knew  well  on  what  ground  they 
stood.  The  great  debate  was  conducted  at  every  fire- 
side. Says  an  illustrious  American  historian,  native 
of  Worcester,  .to  whom  she  sends  salutation  on  her 
birthday,  "one  spirit  moved  through  them  all.  They 
debated  the  great  question  of  resistance,  as  though  God 
were  hearkening:  and  they  took  counsel  reverently 
with  their  ministers,  and  the  aged,  and  the  pious,  and 
the  brave,  in  their  villages.  The  shire  of  Worcester  in 
August  ( 1774)  set  the  example  of  a  county  congress, 
which  disclaimed  the  jurisdiction  of  the  British  house 
of  commons,    asserted  the  exclusive  right  of   the  col- 


ME.  HOAR'S  ADDEESS.  61 

onies  to  originate  laws  respecting  themselves,  rested 
their  duty  of  allegiance  on  the  charter  of  the  province, 
and  declared  the  violation  of  that  charter  a  dissolntion 
of  their  union  with  Britain."  Gage  sent  his  spies  here. 
It  was  rumored  in  August,  1774,  that  he  meditated 
sending  part  of  his  army  to  execute  the  regulating  act, 
which  forbid  town  meetings  except  by  the  written  leave 
of  the  governor.  The  people  of  Worcester  purchased 
and  manufactured  arms,  cast  musket-balls,  provided 
powder,  and  threatened  openly  to  fall  upon  any  body 
of  soldiers  who  should  attack  them. 

When  the  war  of  the  Revolution  came  it  found 
Worcester  ready.  Timothy  Bigelow,  whom  our  late 
eloquent  and  beloved  fellow-citizen.  Judge  Thomas — 
would  he  were  living,  and  in  this  place  to-night — de- 
scribes as  "the  village  blacksmith,  sagacious  states- 
man, prudent  and  gallant  commander,  devoted  patriot, 
chevalier  of  nature,  whose  chivalry  was  illustrated  in 
breaking  and  not  in  forging  the  chains  of  human 
bondage"  led  the  best  disciplined  regiment  in  the 
revolutionary  army,  a  regiment  of  Worcester  men, 
bearing  a  name  covered  with  glory  in  two  wars 
— the  loth  Massachusetts. 

The  war  of  1812  unfortunately  divided  the  opinion  of 
the  people  of  Massachusetts  as  they  were  inclined  to  sym- 
pathize with  England  or  France  in  the  great  struggle 
which  rent  Europe  in  sunder.  The  Federalist  looked 
upon  England  as  the  sole  defense  of  mankind  against 
the  ambition  of  ISTapoleon.  He  regarded  the  power  of 
France    with  a  dread,    which  we  cannot   realize,    even 


62  BI-CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

when  we  read  the  wonderful  eloquence  of  Fisher  Ames. 
But  the  final  judgment  of  history  must  be,  that  the 
war  of  1812  was  a  righteous  and  a  glorious  war.  We 
were  compelled  to  it  by  the  impudent  British  preten- 
sion to  search  American  vessels  on  the  high  seas,  and 
take  from  them  every  man  whom  a  midshipman  should 
suspect,  or  pretend  to  suspect,  of  being  a  British 
subject.  We  began  the  war  after  England  had  crushed 
the  navy  of  every  other  power  that  had  contended 
with  her  by  sea  —  Holland,  Spain,  Denmark,  France. 
"  We  encountered  England  ship  to  ship,  with  a  chiv- 
alry, with  a  perfection  of  discipline,  with  a  constant 
superiority  in  gunnery,  and  with  a  success  utterly  with- 
out example  by  any  other  nation  in  the  world."  This 
is  fully  admitted  by  Maj.  Gen.  Sir  Howard  Douglass, 
in  his  "  Treatise  on  ISTaval  Gunnery,"  a  book  of  high 
authority,  published  with  the  approbation  of  the  Lords 
Commissioners  of  the  admiralty  in  England.  It  is  true, 
we  made  peace  without  a  formal  relinquishment  by 
Great  Britain  of  the  obnoxious  pretension.  But  it  is 
also  true  that  it  never  was  heard  of  again.  "  The  nation 
issued  from  the  war  "  said  John  Quincy  Adams,  "  with 
all  its  rights  and  liberties  unimpaired,  preserved  as 
well  from  the  artifices  of  diplomacy,  as  from  the  force 
of  preponderating  power  upon  their  element,  the  seas." 
The  Duke  of  Wellington,  when  urged  by  the  cabinet, 
after  the  downfall  of  Napoleon,  to  take  command  in 
America,  replies  in  a  letter  to  Lord  Liverpool  of  'Nov. 
9,  1814,  which  I  have  not  seen  cited  by  American  his- 
torians, in  which  he  substantially  admits  the  same  thing. 


MR.  HOAR'S  ADDRESS.  63 

He  says  "I  do  not  promise  to  myself  much  success 
there.  If  we  cannot  obtain  a  naval  superioi-ity  on  the 
lakes,  I  shall  go  only  to  sign  a  peace  which  might  as 
well  be  signed  now.  You  have  no  right,  from  the  state 
of  the  war,  to  demand  any  concession  of  territory  from 
America."  In  her  contributions,  sacrifices,  and  achieve- 
ments, in  this  war,  Massachusetts  may  well  challenge 
comparison  with  any  other  American  state.  One  of  her 
towns,  when  the  war  ended,  had  five  hundred,  men  in 
Dartmoor  prison.  An  accomplished  investigator,  Col. 
Higginson,  has  well  remarked  "As  a  matter  of  fact,  the 
Pederalists  did  their  duty  in  action;  the  Commonwealth 
of  Massachusetts  furnished  during  those  three  years 
more  soldiers  than  any  other;  and  the  'New  England 
states,  which  opposed  the  war,  sent  more  men  into  the 
field  than  the  Southern  states,  which  brought  on  the 
contest.  Unfortunately  the  world  remembers  words 
better  than  actions — litera  scrij^ta  manet, — and  the  few 
questionable  phrases  of  the  Hartford  Convention  are 
now  better  remembered  than  the  14,000  men  which 
Massachusetts  raised  in  1814,  or  the  two  millions  of 
dollars  she  paid  for  bounties." 

But  in  speaking  of  the  forces  which  have  educated 
this  people,  what  shall  we  say  of  them,  but  for  whom 
this  day  would  have  been  a  day  of  sorrow  and  humil- 
iation? The  population  of  Worcester  in  1860  was  a 
little  less  than  25,000.  She  gave  to  the  war  for  the 
Union  the  service  of  more  than  3000  men,  one  in 
every  eight  of  her  population.  "They  shared,"  says 
the  brilliant  orator  whose  voice  you  miss  this  evening, 


64  BI-CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

"in  the  shifting  lot  of  the  army  of  the  Potomac,  from 
its  clouded  morning  to  its  brilliant  close  ;  in  the  march- 
ings and  fightings  of  the  Shenandoah,  till  every  open 
field  and  copse  became  familiar  ground  :  in  the  early 
welcome  victories  of  Carolina  :  in  patient  trials  along 
the  gulf;  in  the  hours  of  turning  fortune  at  l^ew 
Orleans,  Port  Hudson,  and  Yicksburg ;  in  the  tangled 
marches  and  counter-marches  of  Tennessee  ;  in  every 
part  of  the  country,  in  every  great  campaign,  not 
excepting  the  Napoleonic  excursion  of  Sherman  to  the 
sea."  There  is  not  a  record  of  dishonor  in  their  story. 
For  courage,  for  endurance,  for  discipline,  for  intelli- 
gence, the  soldiers  of  Worcester,  by  the  ofiicial  testi- 
mony of  their  great  commanders,  and  concurrent  witness 
of  all  authorities,  were  unsurpassed.  We  would  arro- 
gate to  our  soldiers  no  superiority  over  those  of  other 
American  communities.  Other  states,  other  cities,  have 
their  heroes  ;  but  these  are  ours.  If  I  give  but  this 
brief  allusion  to  those,  whose  deeds  constitute  the 
proudest  chapter  in  our  history,  it  is  because  I  know 
that  the  theme  has  been  so  fully  treated  elsewhere, 
and  because  I  fondly  hope  that  in  coming  ages,  it 
will  be  the  topic  of  many  a  centennial.  For  the  great 
battle-fields,  where  Union  and  Liberty  were  secured  by 
the  courage  of  her  sons,  the  whole  two  hundred  years 
of  Worcester  had  been  but  one  long  drill.  Plato 
declared  that  the  soldiers  of  Marathon,  and  the  sailors 
of  Salamis  became  the  school-masters  of  Hellas. 
Citizen  soldiers  !  Of  the  whole  culture  of  the  past, 
consummate  flower  and  crown  !     You  shall  also  be  our 


MR.  HOAR'S  ADDRESS.  65 

chiefest  educators  and  example  for  the  future.  You 
have  not  only  saved  your  country,  but  you  have 
determined  the  character,  for  ages,  of  the  country  you 
have  saved.  To  be  an  American,  henceforth,  is  to  be 
such  as  you  have  been. 

Sixty  years  ago,  Worcester,  was  still  an  agricultural 
town.  As  the  county  seat,  she  had  become  a  centre 
of  trade.  Yet  in  1820,  of  a  population  of  2,900,  there 
were  but  126  persons  returned  as  employed  in  manufac- 
ture. Lincoln,  in  his  history  of  the  town  down  to  1836, 
devotes  more  space  to  the  matter  of  mines  and  mineral 
resources,  than  to  manufacture.  To-day,  upon  the 
spot  which,  its  planters  thought,  might  supply  thirty, 
or  peradventure,  sixty  families,  seventy  thousand  people 
dwell  in  freedom  and  in  honor.  The  sun,  as  it  rises 
on  their  second  centennial,  sees  them  owners  of  a 
wealth  of  more  than  fifty  millions  ;  (a  hundred  years 
ago,  the  entire  valuation  of  Massachusetts,  including 
Maine,  was  eleven  millions),  paying  at  least  eight 
millions  each  year  in  wages  ;  converting  a  material  of 
twenty  millions  into  a  product  of  thirty-five  millions, 
thus  creating  yearly,  a  value  of  fifteen  millions  ;  their 
workmen  very  largely  owning  their  homes  ;  their  city 
the  centre  of  a  populous  county,  the  spot  on  the  earth's 
surface  where  labor  receives  the  largest  share  of  its 
product  ;  a  city  without  palaces,  and  without  hovels; 
without  an  aristocracy,  and  without  a  serf  ;  adorned  by 
famous  schools,  the  creation  of  private  enterprise  or 
munificence  ;  providing  ample  means  of  education  at 
the  public  charge  for  all  its  children  ;  its  fifty  churches 


66  BI-CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

dwelling  side  by  side  in  charity  ;  its  name  known  and 
honored,  and  its  influence  felt  to  the  farthest  borders  of 
the  continent ;  its  simple  self-government  a  model  of 
honest,  frugal,  humane,  efiicient  administration. 

It  remains  for  me  briefly  to  allude  to  the  influences 
which  have  transformed  the  pleasant  rural  town  of  fifty 
years  ago  into  the  great  and  wealthy  city.  There  are 
two  which  in  our  history  have  had  a  close  connection 
with  each  other  ;  —  the  development  of  our  manufacture 
by  the  great  inventive  genius  and  manufacturing  skill 
of  our  people  ;  and  the  accession  to  our  population  of 
our  Irish  brethren. 

Worcester  was  the  county  seat.  That  fact  made  her 
a  centre  of  trade,  and  caused  professional  men  and 
county  ofiicers  to  make  their  residence  here.  A  popu- 
lation full  of  energy,  public  spirit  and  wealth  gathered 
here.  The  excellence  of  the  land,  equalled  by  few 
towns  in  the  county,  contributed  to  the  same  result. 
These  beautiful  rolling  hills,  green  and  fertile  to  the 
top,  were  especially  attractive  for  habitation.  Our 
noble  forests  abounded  in  oak,  chestnut  and  pine.  The 
maple  gave  to  the  landscape  its  autumn  splendors. 
The  elm  which,  in  England,  they  call  "the  weed  of 
Worcester,"  lends  us,  also,  its  stately  ornament. 
Worcester  was  on  a  principal  high  road  from  Boston 
to  the  West.  It  was  natural,  therefore,  that  when  the 
capitalists  of  Providence  carried  out  their  scheme  of 
inland  navigation  in  1828,  Worcester  should  be  the 
terminus  of  the  Blackstone  Canal  ;  and  when  Boston, 
inspired  by  the  wisdom  and  energy  of  I>rathan  Hale,  —  a 


MR.  HOAR'S  ADDRESS.  67 

name  Worcester  has  double  reason  to  honor, —  begun  in 
1835,  the  great  raih'oad  system  which  connects  her  with 
the  West,  Worcester  should  have  been  the  first  point  at 
which  she  aimed.  The  town,  though  scantily  supplied 
with  water  power,  got  a  fair  start  of  its  competitors. 
Its  manufacturing  industries  were  planted,  and  ready  to 
grow,  under  the  fostering  care  of  the  tariff  of  1842. 

Other  railroads,  leading  north,  south  and  west,  were 
soon  added  and  preserved  her  advantage. 

How  often,  in  l^ew  England  history,  is  the  lesson 
repeated,  that,  from  seeming  disadvantages,  an  ener- 
getic people  reap  their  greatest  benefit.  It  was  our 
great  good  fortune  that  we  had  no  considerable  water 
power.  If  we  had  had  it,  there  would  inevitably  have 
grown  up  here  great  manufactures  of  textile  fabrics, 
carried  on  in  great  establishments  by  giant  corpora- 
tions. Worcester  would  have  been  owned  largely  by 
absentees.  Instead  of  a  community  of  skilled  and 
intelligent  mechanics,  managing  and  directing  their 
own  concerns,  rendered  by  the  variety  of  their  occupa- 
tion, to  a  great  degree,  independent  of  the  changes  of 
business,  we  should  have  had  a  population  working  for 
lower  and  fluctuating  wages,  its  prosperity  rising  and 
falling  with  the  chances  of  the  times. 

The  mechanic  arts,  as  Blackstone  says  of  the 
sciences,  are  of  a  sociable  disposition,  and  flourish  best  in 
the  neighborhood  of  each  other.  Every  new  workshop 
was  an  attraction  to  others.  The  momentum  given  to 
our  industries  in  the  beginning  by  our  railroad  advan- 
tages has  never  ceased  its  operation. 


68  BI-CENTENNIAL  CELEBEATION. 

This  neighborhood  is  the  native  region  of  inventive 
genius.  A  delightful  story  is  told  by  Whitney  of  a 
Worcester  County  captive  in  Queen  Anne's  war,  in 
1705,  who  was  taken  by  the  Indians  to  Montreal,  and 
who  saved  himself  and  two  companions  from  torture 
and  death,  and  earned  their  deliverance  from  captivity, 
by  building  a  sawmill  on  the  River  Chamblee,  there 
being  no  sawmill  in  all  Canada,  and  no  artisan  able  to 
build  one  ;  —  a  story  which  finds  its  only  parallel  in 
that  of  the  Athenian  captives  in  the  expedition  to 
Syracuse,  who  earned  their  deliverance  by  reciting 
the  verses  of  Euripides. 

Within  the  towns  whose  ancient  borders  touched  our 
own  were  born  the  inventors  of  the  cotton  gin,  of  the 
carpet  loom,  of  the  machine  for  turning  irregular 
forms,  and  of  the  sewing  machine.  The  first  of  these 
doubled  the  value  of  every  acre  of  cotton-producing 
land  in  America.  The  last  has  been,  doubtless,  an 
equal  benefit  to  mankind. 

Within  our  own  borders  were  invented  or  perfected 
the  wonderful  mechanism  for  the  making  of  wire,  the 
wrench,  the  loom,  the  envelope  machine,  many  imple- 
ments of  agriculture,  including  the  modern  plough, 
and  many  other  useful  machines  of  the  highest  value  to 
mankind.  The  detail  of  these  wonderful  achievements 
will  be  given  to  the  public  by  your  historical  committee. 
It  would  be  easy  to  show  that  many  great  states,  many 
populous  nations,  have,  in  centuries  of  life,  produced 
far  less  for  the  welfare  and  happiness  of  mankind  than 


MR.  HOAR'S  ADDRESS.  69 

this  people  in  one  half-century.  What  cycle  of  Cathay 
is  equal  to  the  fifty  years  of  Worcester  ? 

Our  Fathers  thought  it  not  unfitting  to  insert  in  the 
Constitution  itself,  the  injunction  upon  their  descend- 
ants, "especially  to  cherish  the  University  at  Cam- 
bridge." It  is  not  unbecoming  this  occasion,  to  urge 
upon  the  people  of  this  city,  now  and  in  all  coming 
time,  to  foster  their  Technical  School,  devoted  to  that 
modern  education,  which  makes  science  the  handmaid 
of  mechanic  art.  By  this  supremacy  Worcester  must 
henceforth  live,  or  bear  no  life. 

T  must  not  pass  by  another  important  factor  in  our 
history,  whose  influence  has  been  already  very  great, 
and  must  be  largely  taken  into  account,  in  our  anticipa- 
tion of  the  future.  I  mean  the  immigration,  within  the 
last  half-century,  of  our  brethren  of  foreign  birth, 
especially  of  the  Irish  race.  Mr.  Webster,  at  Plymouth, 
in  1820,  said,  with  a  just  pride,  that  in  the  villages  and 
farmhouses  of  ^ew  England,  there  was  still  undisturbed 
sleep,  within  unbarred  doors.  ]S'ew  England,  and 
America,  so  far  as  it  has  obeyed  her  teaching,  has  ever 
kept  her  doors  unbarred.  The  great  immigration, 
which  began  about  1830,  has  enriched  Worcester  with 
its  abundant  tide.  Of  our  whole  population  in  1880, 
of  58,291  there  were  of  foreign  birth  15,624.  Of  this 
number  the  principal  ingredients  were  contributed  as 
follows  : 

Ireland,  9,329         Sweden,  848 

British  America,    3,220         German  Empire,      370 

England,  1,207 


70  Bl-CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION- 

The  number  of  persons  having  one  parent  or  both  of 
foreign  birth  was  82,894. 

Allowing  for  the  very  large  number  of  the  grand- 
children of  emigrants,  it  seems  reasonably  certain,  that, 
of  our  present  population  of  70,000,  quite  thirty  thou- 
sand are  of  Irish  descent.  To  many  good  men  this  has 
been  a  source  of  alarm.  But  to  me,  much  meditating  on 
this  theme,  considering  it  in  those  large  and  permanent 
relations  which  belong  to  an  occasion  like  this,  it  seems 
cause  for  unmixed  gratitude  to  God,  both  for  what  it 
has  done  for  us  in  the  past,  and  for  what  we  may 
hope  from  it  in  the  future.  Say  nothing  now  of  the 
benefit  we  have  been  able  to  confer  on  them.  Leave 
out  of  view  the  blessing  of  Justice,  Freedom,  Employ- 
ment, Self-government,  Education,  to  those  who  have 
withdrawn  their  necks  from  under  the  heel  of  Eng- 
land, a  boon  which  a  humane  and  generous  people 
would  strain  and  peril  their  own  institutions  to  the 
utmost  to  confer.  Think  of  what  this  race  has  done 
for  us. 

Without  the  foreign  immigration  to  this  country  the 
building  of  our  railroads  would  have  been  impracticable, 
or  must  have  been  delayed  for  a  generation.  That,  in 
its  turn,  would  have  postponed  the  settlement  of  the 
West,  would  have  made  the  suppression  of  the  rebellion 
impossible,  and  would  have  prevented  the  creation  of 
that  western  market,  and  access  to  that  western 
agriculture,  which,  in  their  turn,  have  created,  supported 
and  fed  the  manufacturing  communities  of  the  East. 
Worcester   owes  its   growth,  its  wealth,   its    manufac- 


MR.  HOAR'S  ADDRESS.  71 

turing  supremacy,  to  that  railroad  system,  which  these 
men  crossed  the  Atlantic  to  build  for  us. 

The  English  and  the  Irish  race  meet  in  America  as 
mutual  benefactors.  They  meet,  also,  as  equals.  The 
problem  of  their  perfect  union  is  to  be  wrought  out 
here,  on  a  new  field,  where  equal  justice  prevails,  where 
there  is  no  lord,  and  no  serf. 

We  dwell,  with  an  honest  pride,  on  the  great  qualities 
of  our  own  ancestors.  We  hope  to  transmit  them  to 
our  children.  In  that  mighty  national  life,  drawn  from 
so  many  sources  ;  of  many,  one  ;  of  many  states,  one 
nation  ;  of  many  races,  one  people  ;  of  many  creeds, 
one  faith  ;  the  elements  the  Puritan  has  contributed,  — 
his  courage ;  his  constancy ;  his  belief  in  God  ;  his 
reverence  for  law;  his  love  of  liberty;  his  serene  and 
lofty  hope  —  will  be  elements  of  perpetual  power. 

But  see  what  the  Irishman  brings,  also,  as  a  dowry 
to  this  marriage  which  the  centuries  are  to  weld. 

The  Irish  race  is  conspicuous  among  great  races  for 
great  traits.  No  people  that  possessed  them  ever 
failed  to  achieve  a  high  rank  among  nations,  on  a  fair 
field.  These  are  :  —  the  capacity  to  produce  great 
men  under  the  most  adverse  conditions  ;  the  capacity 
for  rapid  elevation,  when  conditions  are  favorable  ; 
courage  ;  soldierly  qualities  ;  the  gift  of  eloquence  ; 
the  power  of  severe  and  patient  labor  ;  the  passion  for 
owning  land  ;  strong  domestic  affection  ;  chastity  ; 
deep  religious  feeling. 

The  most  English  of  English  historians  has  drawn  a 
picture  of  England's  rule  over  Ireland,  whose  dark  and 


72  BI-CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

terrible  shadows  no  other  hand  can  deepen.  —  Six 
hundred  and  fifty  years  of  the  most  terrible  form  of 
tyranny,  that  of  a  race  by  a  race  ;  government  by 
bayonet,  artillery  and  intrenched  camp  ;  the  greatest 
English  champions  of  civil  and  spiritual  liberty  denying 
even  toleration  to  Ireland  ;  whatever  is  associated  with 
deliverance  and  dignity  to  the  Englishman  associated 
with  bondage  and  ruin  to  the  Irishman  ;  of  the  two 
greatest  English  sovereigns, —  Cromwell  and  William, 
—  the  Irish  policy  of  one,  extirpation,  of  the  other, 
degradation  ;  the  most  odious  laws  aggravated  by  more 
odious  administration  ;  priests,  revered  by  millions  as 
the  only  authorized  expositors  of  Christian  truth,  and 
the  only  authorized  dispensers  of  the  Christian  sacra- 
ments, treated  as  no  decent  man  would  treat  the  vilest 
beggar  ;  —  These  are  Lord  Macaulay's  touches.  His 
authority  needs  no  confirmation.^  If  it  did,  it  would  be 
easy  to  multiply  English  witnesses,  and  to  show  that 
this  state  of  things  continued,  without  substantial 
improvement,  down  to  the  time  when  the  great  emigra- 


iThat  there  may  be  no  suspicion  of  exaggeration,  the  following  extract  is  annexed 
from  Lord  Macaulay's  speech  on  the  state  of  Ireland,  delivered  in  the  House  of 
Commons,  February  19th,  1844.  See  also  the  treatise  on  Land  Tenure  in  Ireland, 
in  Systems  of  Land  Tenure  in  various  countries,  published  by  the  Cobden  Club,  and 
reprinted  at  the  request  of  Mr.  Gladstone. 

"Misgovernment,"  says  Lord  Macaulay,  "lasting  from  the  reign  of  Henry  the  2d  to 
the  reign  of  William  the  4th"  (that  is  for  six  hundred  and  fifty  years),  "has  left  an 
immense  mass  of  discontent.  You  govern  that  island,  not  by  means  of  the  respect 
which  the  people  feel  for  the  laws,  but  by  means  of  bayonets,  artillery,  and  intrenched 
corps.  The  primary  cause  is,  no  doubt,  the  manner  in  which  Ireland  became  subject 
to  the  English  crown.  The  annexation  was  eftected  by  conquest,  and  by  conquest  of 
a  peculiar  kind.  It  was  a  conquest  of  a  race  by  a  race.  Of  all  forms  "of  tyranny,  I 
believe  tliat  the  worst  is  that  of  a  nation  over  a  nation.  No  enmity  that  ever  existed 
between  populations  separated  by  seas  and  mountain  ridges  approaches  in  bitterness 
the  mutual  enmity  felt  by  populations  locally  intermingled,  but  never  morally  and 
politically  amalgamated;  and  such  were  the  Englishry  and  the  Irishry.  The  "spirit 
of  liberty  in  England  was  closely  allied  with  the  spirit  of  Puritanism,  and  was 
mortally  "hostile  to  the  Papacy.  Such  men  as  Hampden,  Vane,  Milton.  Locke,  though 
zealousgenerally  for  civil  and  spiritual  freedom,  yet  held  that  the  Roman  Catholic 
worship  had  no  claim  to  toleration.  The  watchwords,  the  badges,  the  names,  the 
places,  the  days,  which  in  the  mind  of  an  Englishman  were  associated  with  deliverance, 


MR.  HOAR'S  ADDRESS.  73 

tion  from  Ireland  was  at  its  height.  Yet  what  eight 
millions  of  men  on  earth  produced  more  great  men  than 
Ireland  during  the  last  half  of  the  last  century  ?  Swift, 
and  Goldsmith,  and  Burke,  and  Sheridan,  each  the 
foremost  name  in  a  great  department  in  English  litera- 
ture ;  Wellington,  the  first  soldier  of  his  time,  were 
Irishmen.  It  may  be  said,  that  they  belonged  to  the 
dominant  race.  But  take  the  men  whom  Ireland  claims 
as  her  own,  all  on  the  stage  within  a  period  of  fifty 
years,  —  Emmet, 

The  noblest  star  of  Fame, 
That  e'er  iu  life's  young  glory  sat! 

Grattan,  whose  genius  gave  Ireland  her  brief  taste  of 
national  life.  — 

That  one  lucid  interval,  snatched  from  the  gloom, 
And  the  madness  of  ages,  vvheu,  filled  with  his  soul, 

A  nation  o'ei'leaped  the  dark  bounds  of  her  doom, 
And  for  one  sacred  instaut,  touched  Liberty's  goal ; 


prosperity,  national  dignity,  were,  in  the  mind  of  an  Irishman,  associated  with  bond- 
age, ruin,  and  degradation.  Twice,  during  the  seventeenth  cenlury,  the  Irish  rose  up 
against  the  Euglish  colony.  Twice  they  were  compliti'l>  put  down.  The  first 
rebellion  was  crushed  by  Oliver  Cromwell;  the  second  by  VVilliam  the  Third.  The 
policy  of  Cromwell  was  wise,  and  strong,  and  straightforward,  and  cruel.  It  was 
comprised  in  one  word.  That  word  was  extirpation.  The  policy  of  William  was 
less  able,  less  energetic,  and,  though  more  humane  in  seeming,  perhaps  not  more 
humane  iu  reality.  Extirpation  was  not  attempted.  The  Irish  Roman  Catholics 
were  permitted  to  live,  to  be  fruitful,  to  replenish  the  earth;  but  they  were  doomed 
to  be  what  the  Helots  were  in  Sparta,  what  the  Greeks  were  under  the  Ottoman, 
Every  man  of  the  subject  caste  was  strictly  excluded  from  public  trust.  Take  what 
path  he  might  in  life,  he  was  crossed  at  every  step  by  some  vexatious  restriction.  It 
was  only  by  being  obscure  and  inactive,  that  he  could,  on  his  native  soil,  be  safe.  If 
he  aspired  to  be  powerful  and  honored,  he  must  begin  by  being  an  exile.  At  home 
he  was  a  mere  Gibeonite,  a  hewer  of  wood  and  drawer  of  water.  The  statute  book 
of  Ireland  was  filled  with  enactments  which  furnish  to  the  Roman  Catholics  but  too 
good  a  ground  for  recriminating  on  us,  when  we  talk  of  the  barbarities  of  Bonner 
and  Gardner;  and  the  harshness  of  those  odious  laws  was  aggravated  by  a  more 
odious  administration.  For,  bad  as  the  legislators  were,  the  magistrates  were  worse 
still.  Courts  of  law  and  juries  existed  only  for  the  benefit  of  the  dominant  sect. 
Those  priests  who  were  revered  by  millions  as  their  natural  advisers  and  guardians, 
as  the  only  authorized  expositors  of  Christian  truth,  as  the  only  authorized  dispensers 
of  the  Christian  sacraments,  were  treated  by  the  squires  and  squireens  of  the  ruling 
faction  as  no  good-natured  man  would  treat  the  vilest  beggar,  In  this  manner  a 
century  passed  away." 
6 


74  BI-CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

Plunkett,  greatest  of  the  great  orators  of  the  House 
of  Commons  at  its  greatest  period, 

To  whom  with  one  consent, 

All  yield  the  crown  in  the  high  argument; 

Father  Mathew,  whose  inspired  word  exorcised  the 
demon  of  intemperance  from  the  bosoms  of  hundreds 
of  thousands  of  his  countrymen  ;  O'Connell,  before 
whom  England  trembled  ;  Curran,  Sheil,  Flood,  are 
but  a  few  of  the  great  names  which  have  adorned  the 
annals  of  this  down-trodden  people. 

It  is  true,  they  brought  with  them  faults,  the  result 
of  their  long  bondage,  and  some  very  grave  faults, 
peculiar  to  their  race.  But  is  it  not  also  true,  that  our 
experience  of  thirty  years  has  shown  their  capacity  for 
rapid  advancement  ?  Self  government  and  freedom 
are  great  educators  ;  as  the  history  of  our  western 
communities,  as  well  as  our  own,  abundantly  proves. 

We  need  not  go  outside  of  our  own  local  history  for 
proof  of  the  courage  and  soldierly  quality  of  the  Irish 
race.  We  need  not  recount  the  history  of  a  hundred 
foreign  battle-fields,  where  their  valor  has  given  victory 
to  a  flag,  which  to  them,  was  only  the  smblem  of 
oppression.  We  need  not  revert  to  our  Revolutionary 
annals  to  remember  Montgomery  ;  or  trace  the  lineage 
of  Andrew  Jackson  ;  or  name  the  name  of  Sheridan,  — 
the  illustrious  soldier  at  the  head  of  our  army  to-day. 
When  the  news  came  of  the  dishonor  to  our  flag  at 
Sumter,  the  prompt  enlistment  of  the  Emmet  Guards, 
the  first  organization  of  foreign  blood,  one  of  the  very 
first  of  any  blood,  that  marched  to  the  war,  has  been 


MR.  HOAR'S  ADDRESS.  75 

well  said  to  be  "  a  representative  fact  of  the  very 
highest  importance  to  the  permanent  character  of  our 
Government."  Who  can  read,  without  tears  of  joy, 
and  pride,  and  thanksgiving  to  Almighty  God,  that  he 
has  given  such  men  to  be  his  countrymen,  the  story  of 
the  death  of  O'N^eil,  —  that  natural  gentleman,  who  said 
when  he  was  dying,  "  Write  to  my  dear  mother,  and 
tell  her  I  die  for  my  country.  I  wish  I  had  two  lives 
to  give.  Let  the  Union  flag  be  wrapped  about  me,  and 
a  fold  of  it  laid  under  my  head,"  —  of  the  devoted  and 
tender  McConville,  who  died  at  Cold  Harbor,  with  the 
name  of  his  mother  on  his  lips,  —  of  him  who  gave  both 
arms  to  save  the  flag  of  the  country  he  loved,  and 
whose  stout  and  constant  heart  has  never  yet  regretted 
the  sacrifice.^ 

I  will  not  dwell  upon  the  strength  of  the  domestic 
affection  of  that  people  whose  generosity  to  the  kindred 
they  left  behind  them  is  without  parallel,  —  or  upon  the 
much  needed  lesson  they  give  to  us  of  reverence  for 
the  sacredness  of  the  marriage  tie.  I  have  said  enough, 
already,  of  the  fruits  of  their  severe  and  patient 
industry. 

The  French,  our  brethren  and  allies,  who  lend  so 
much  of  grace  and  romance  to  our  early  history,  and 
who    contributed  so  much  to  our   independence  ;    the 


1  Sergeant  Thomas  Plunkett  was  present  at  the  delivery  of  this  address.  He  was 
born  In  Ireland  in  1840,  and  came  to  this  country  in  1845.  He  was  Corporal  Co.  A, 
21st  Massachusetts  Volunteers.  At  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg  the  regiment  was 
ordered  to  charge  and  passed  under  a  terrific  fire  from  the  rebel  batteries.  The  Color- 
Sergeant  was  shot.  Sergeant  Plunkett  raised  the  colors,  bore  them  to  the  front, 
raised  the  staif  in  the  air,  when  both  his  arms  were  struck  and  torn  away  by  a  shell. 
He  bore  his  calamity  for  more  than  twenty  years  with  invincible  patience  and  cheer- 
fulness, and  died  March  10, 1885. 


76  BT-CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

Germans,  an  element  more  numerous  and  not  less 
valuable  than  any  other,  taking  the  country  through  ; 
the  Scandinavian,  the  Spanish,  are  to  contribute  their 
elements  to  the  mass,  which  the  centuries  are  to  knead. 
Certain  types  will  be,  for  a  time,  locally  predominant. 
But  it  is  well  said  by  a  thoughtful  writer  who  has 
carefully  examined  the  disclosures  of  the  census,  that 
"  Ethnologically,  the  change  will  be  slight.  Supposing 
the  entire  mass  to  be  fused,  the  Celtic  and  Teutonic 
blood,  the  Latin  and  the  Norman,  would  be  mingled 
in  much  the  same  proportions  as  they  were  in  the  veins 
of  the  original  English  settlers.  The  American  of  the 
future,  supposing  present  foi'ces  to  continue,  and  all 
white  elements  to  fuse  equally,  would  be  almost  as 
much  an  Anglo-Saxon  as  the  American  of  1820." 

I  have  spoken,  imperfectly,  of  our  military  history. 
I  have  not  dwelt  at  length  on  the  familiar  and  tempting 
topic  of  the  relation  between  the  mechanic  arts  and  the 
love  of  liberty.  But  I  should  fail  in  my  duty,  if  I  did 
not  speak  of  the  chief  civic  glory  of  Worcester,  her 
leadership  in  the  great  political  movement  which 
resulted  in  the  freedom  of  the  slave.  Worcester  had 
very  early  indicated  her  opinion  in  this  matter.  Her 
brave  soldier  of  the  Revolution,  Timothy  Bigelow,  said, 
"  while  fighting  for  liberty,  he  never  would  be  guilty  of 
selling  slaves."  Levi  Lincoln,  the  trusted  friend  of 
Jefferson,  the  great  leader  and  organiser  in  New 
England  in  the  overthrow  of  the  Federal  party,  and  the 
establishment  of  its  successor  in  power,  argued,  in 
1781,  in  the  Worcestei-  Court  House,  the  great  case  in 


MR.  HOAR'S  ADDRESS.  77 

which  it  was  held  that  slavery  could  not  exist  under  the 
Constitution  of  Massachusetts.  The  case  was  first 
tried  in  the  Inferior  Court,  whose  Judges  were  three 
Worcester  County  farmers.  The  Court  and  Jury,  fully 
representing  the  sentiment  of  the  people,  sustained  the 
argument  of  Lincoln  that  "  the  black  child  is  born  as 
much  a  free  child  as  if  it  were  white  ;"  that  "it  is  a 
law  of  nature  that  all  men  are  equal  and  free  ; "  that 
"  the  law  of  nature  is  the  law  of  God,  whose  gospel  is 
the  perfect  law  of  liberty."  The  Superior  Court  sus- 
tained the  decision,  on  appeal.  This  decision,  in  the 
higher  court,  was  based  on  a  clause  in  the  Bill  of 
Rights  of  Massachusetts,  in  all  probability  inserted  foi* 
that  very  purpose.  Worcester  shared  the  intense 
indignation  of  all  Massachusetts  at  the  passage  of  the 
Missouri  compromise  in  1820.  When  after  the  close 
of  the  Mexican  war  in  1847,  the  great  struggle  between 
Freedom  and  Slavery  for  the  possession  of  the  territory 
west  of  the  Mississippi  began,  it  found  the  workshops 
of  Worcester  filled  with  skilful,  intelligent,  thoughtful, 
liberty-loving  mechanics.  They  were  very  largely  the 
sons  of  the  farmers  of  the  county,  who  had  adopted  the 
occupation  demanded  by  the  new  wants  of  the  time. 
They  had  drunk  in,  with  their  native  air,  a  love  of 
constitutional  liberty.  They  held  themselves  disgraced, 
they  deemed  labor,  their  own  crown  and  pride,  dis- 
honored, by  the  existence  of  slavery  anywhere  on 
American  soil.  'No  orator  visited  Worcester  to  plead 
that  cause,  who  did  not  find  his  audience  in  advance 
of  his  teaching. 


78  BI-CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

I  claim  for  the  people  of  Worcester  city  and  county 
a  service  and  leadership  in  the  political  revolution 
which  achieved  the  freedom  of  the  slave,  to  which  the 
contribution  of  no  individual  is  to  be  compared. 
Charles  Allen  did  a  heroic  act,  when,  at  Philadelphia, 
he  predicted  the  dissolution  of  his  party,  then  in  the 
very  delirium  of  anticipated  triumph,  and  came  home 
to  summon  the  people  of  his  young  city  to  his  side. 
He  was  one  of  the  very  greatest  of  men.  But  he  could 
scarcely  have  looked  his  neighbors  in  the  face,  had  he 
done  otherwise.  Elsewhere,  it  was,  at  best,  a  party, 
that  was  on  the  side  of  freedom.  Here,  it  was  a 
people.  I  see  that  othei*  localities  are  now  making 
claim  to  be  the  birthplace  of  the  Anti-slavery  cause, 
which  would  hardly  have  acknowledged  the  paternity 
at  the  time.     So, 

"  Seven  mighty  cities  claimed  great  Homer  dead, 
Through  which  the  living  Homer  begged  his  bread." 

We  will  not  discuss  their  title.  But  as  surety  as 
Faneuil  Hall  was  the  cradle  of  American  Independence, 
so  surely  was  Worcester  the  cradle  of  the  later  revolu- 
tion. 

Honor  to  whom  honor  is  due.  Writers  of  history 
have  been  too  apt  to  ascribe  the  great  results  which 
have  been  accomplished  in  this  country,  to  the  influence 
of  prominent  persons,  and  to  overlook  the  strength, 
wisdom  and  power  of  a  popular  sense  which  those 
prominent  persons  have  but  obeyed.  The  orators  have 
been  faithful  to  their  own  guild.  Eulogists  have  given 
the  credit  of  leading  the  people  to  eloquent  men  who 


MR.  HOAR'S  ADDRESS.  79 

have  merely  uttered  their  voice  ;  sometimes,  to  eloquent 
men  whom  the  people  have  never  recognized  either  as 
safe,  or  as  sane,  counsellors.  Why  should  we  build 
our  monument  to  men  who  have  been  always  in  the 
wrong,  whose  counsej,  if  taken,  would  have  brought 
ruin  and  disaster,  and  forget  the  reverence  due  to  a 
people  always  in  the  right.  Eloquence  is  a  sorry 
leader  if  it  do  not  utter  the  voice  of  sobriety  and 
wisdom.  The  love  of  Freedom  is  but  a  rank  and 
poisonous  weed  in  that  soil  where  the  love  of  Truth 
does  not  grow.  The  teachers  of  our  people  have  ever 
been  grave  and  serious  men,  little  removed,  either  in 
thought  or  purpose,  from  the  people  themselves.  The 
American  Revolution  was  not  the  result  of  a  passionate 
outcry  of  Patrick  Henry,  or  James  Otis.  Constitu- 
tional liberty  is  no  mushroom,  springing  up  in  a  night. 
It  is  an  oaken  growth,  slowly  adding  ring  to  ring, 
through  many  a  summer's  heat  and  winter's  cold.  If 
Worcester  has  had  few  great  leaders,  it  is  because  her 
people  have  been  leaders. 

In  looking  back  upon  the  relation  of  Worcester  to 
constitutional  liberty,  from  the  time  of  her  planting  in 
the  forest,  down  to  the  close  of  the  rebellion,  and  the 
great  consummation  in  the  adoption  of  the  three 
amendments  to  the  constitution,  you  can  find  no  time 
from  the  beginning,  when,  in  the  light  of  experience, 
you  could  wish  her  people  had  acted  otherwise. 

In  tracing  the  great  forces  which  have  given  charac- 
ter to  our  history,  I  have  omitted  the  most  interesting 
and  important  of  all,  the  place  occupied  by  woman  in 


80  BI-CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

our  social  life.     This  noble  theme  does  not  peculiarly 
belong  to  a  historic  sketch  of  Worcester.     She,  who 

"  stays  all  the  fair  young  planet  in  her  hands," 

has  here  contributed  her  full  share  to  whatever  of 
glory  or  honor  can  be  found  in  our  story.  The  moral 
temperament,  which  determines  permanently  the  history 
of  any  community,  is  given  to  it  by  its  women. 
Whether  it  be  true,  as  physiologists  tell  us,  that,  as  a 
rule,  the  mental  and  moral  qualities  of  children  come 
from  the  mother,  and  the  physical  only  from  the  father, 
it  is  at  least  true  that  children  learn  to  follow  what  is 
excellent  in  the  examples  of  their  fathers,  from  the 
teachings  of  their  mothers.  If  our  children,  in  future 
generations,  are  to  imitate  whatever  there  has  been  of 
heroism  in  their  ancestors,  if  they  are  to  love  their 
country,  if  they  are  to  be  brave,  free,  generous,  gentle, 
they  must  learn  the  lesson,  as  their  fathers  learnt  it,  at 
their  mother's  knees.  No  nation,  no  city,  no  house- 
hold, ever  took  a  lofty  place,  where  the  influence  of 
woman  did  not  inspire  it  with  the  heroic  temper. 
DeTocqueville  says  :  "  I  do  not  hesitate  to  say,  that 
they  give  to  every  nation  a  moral  temperament,  which 
shows  itself  in  its  politics.  A  hundred  times  I  have 
seen  weak  men  show  real  public  virtue,  because  they 
had  by  their  sides  women  who  supported  them,  not  by 
advice  as  to  particulars,  but  by  fortifying  their  feelings 
of  duty,  and  directing  their  ambition.  More  frequently, 
I  must  confess,  I  have  observed  the  domestic  influence 
gradually  transforming  a  man,  naturally  generous, 
noble,    and   unselfish,  into  a  cowardly,   common-place. 


MR.  HOAR'S  ADDRESS.  81 

place-hunting  self-seeker,  thinking  of  public  business 
only  as  the  means  of  making  himself  comfortable ;  — 
and  this  simply  by  daily  contact  with  a  well-conducted 
woman,  a  faithful  wife,  an  excellent  mother,  but  from 
whose  mind  the  grand  notion  of  public  duty  was 
entirely  absent." 

This  is  the  Frenchman's  experience.  But  the  great 
philosopher  of  ISTew  England  said  better.  "What  is 
civilization  ? "  says  Emerson,  "  I  answer,  the  power  of 
good  women."  The  legislation  of  the  last  half-century 
has  placed  woman  very  nearly  in  a  condition  of  legal 
equality  with  man,  with  one  large  exception.  It  has  not 
yet  seemed  wise  to  the  majority  of  either  sex  to  clothe 
her  with  the  ballot.  But  in  every  other  way,  from  the 
planting  in  the  forest  until  this  hour,  her  influence  in 
our  public  life  has  been  on  the  heroic  side.  She  sent 
out,  comforted,  sustained,  welcomed  home,  inspired, 
rewarded,  the  soldiers  in  the  Revolution,  and  in  the  later 
and  greater  war.  She  enlisted  earliest,  and  was  most 
constant,  in  the  great  civic  contest  with  slavery.  On 
every  great  occasion,  her  uncounted  vote  has  been 
counted. 

And  now,  as  the  solemn  shadow  marks  upon  the  dial 
the  passage  of  two  hundred  years,  may  we  not  hope  that 
the  Power  that  has  been  with  our  Fathers  will  be  with 
our  children  ?  Will  he  vouchsafe  to  them  that  the 
virtues,  born  of  adversity,  shall  survive  the  prosperity 
they  have  created  ?  The  old  rural  life  has  gone. 
Massachusetts  is  to  be,  henceforth,  in  large  degree,  but 


82  BI-CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

a  cluster  of  cities.  The  contest  with  wild  beast,  and 
savage,  and  winter,  and  forest,  and  rocky  soil,  is  over. 
He,  who  encountered  and  overcame  these  rude  but  giant 
forces,  with  no  servant  but  his  good  right  arm,  is  now 
an  emperor,  on  whose  bidding  countless  wondrous 
mechanisms,  and  steam  and  electricity,  and  the  force, 
which  winter  snows,  and  spring  and  autumn  rain,  gather 
up  and  store,  in  lake  and  river,  wait  as  humble  and 
obsequious  vassals.  The  race,  trained  for  ages  in  the 
venerable  maxims  of  English  law  and  English  freedom, 
is  to  share  its  self-government  with  races  to  whom  law 
has  for  ages  appeared  only  as  tyranny,  and  liberty  been 
known  only  in  its  excesses.  To  the  healthful  inspira- 
tion of  poverty  have  succeeded  the  temptations  of  wealth. 
But  there  is  no  old  age  in  our  blood.  We  are  still 
a  people  in  early  youth.  We  must  expect,  for  many 
generations,  a  continuance  of  that  wonderful  growth, 
which,  for  the  last  half-century,  has  outrun  the  wildest 
prediction.  As  Burke  said  of  the  colonial  populations  : 
"State  the  numbers  as  high  as  we  will,  while  the  dis- 
pute continues,  the  exaggeration  ends."  We  have  our 
stimulant  climate,  in  which  work  and  not  rest  is  the 
luxury  both  for  muscle  and  brain.  The  Worcester 
mechanic,  in  the  strife  for  supremacy,  testing  every 
intellectual  power  to  the  utmost,  is  to  be  spurred  to 
exertion  in  a  race  in  which  modern  improvement  in 
transportation  makes  all  mankind  his  competitors.  God 
has  given  here,  as  nowhere  else,  inventive  skill  to  the 
brain  of  man.  In  our  children  great  races  are  to  be 
blended,  who  will  contribute  the  qualities  of  which  great 


MR.  HOAR'S  ADDRESS.  83 

states  are  builded.  They  will  have  learned  to  deem 
Education,  Freedom,  and  Justice,  the  prime  necessities 
of  life.  They  will  be  part  of  the  foremost  state  of  a 
great  and  free  nation.  They  will  inherit  institutions  of 
self-government,  built  by  great  architects  on  sure  founda- 
tions. The  American  spirit,  product  of  German  brain, 
and  Celtic  heart,  and  Norseman's  restlessness,  and 
English  constancy,  which  brought  across  the  sea  the 
love  of  liberty  and  reverence  for  law,  will  be  theirs, 
enlarged,  strengthened,  invigorated,  purified  by  centu- 
ries of  life  and  growth  in  congenial  air.  If  God  give 
to  them,  as  to  their  Fathers,  faith  in  a  personal  immor- 
tality, and  in  that  word  which  when  Heaven  and  Earth 
pass  away,  shall  endure,  the  foundation  of  their  city 
shall  stand  secure. 


His    Excellency   the   Governor  was   next  introduced,   and 
spoke  as   follows  : 

GOYERNOR   ROBINSON'S   ADDRESS. 


Mr.  Mayor,  and  Ladies  and  Gentlemen  : 
This  anniversary  of  to-day  is  so  peculiarly  the  occa- 
sion for  the  sons  and  citizens  of  old  Worcester,  that 
more  than  a  brief  word  from  one  who  can  claim  no 
preeminence  by  reason  of  birth  or  residence  here,  must 
seem  to  be  an  invasion  and  interruption  of  cherished 
memories  and  associations.  And  especially  after  you 
have  so  fully  enjoyed  the  able  and  scholarly  address 
which  your  cultui'ed  fellow-citizen  and  our  distin- 
guished Senator  has  given,  it  would  be  fruitless,  indeed, 
for  me  to  attempt  to  add  words  of  instruction  or 
inspiration  in  harmony  with  the  sentiment  of  the  hour. 

But  I  cannot  be  unmindful  of  the  fact,  that  Massa- 
chusetts holds  an  unquestionable  right  to  stand  as  an 
interested  spectator  of  your  celebration,  and  to  express 
her  recognition  of  the  marvellous  triumphs  in  domestic, 
social,  religious,  intellectual  and  miiterial  development 
accomplished  here  —  the  abundant  harvest  of  the  planta- 
tion established  two  centuries  ago. 

More  than  a  hundred  years  before  John  Hancock 
was  inaugurated  as  the  first  governor  of  the  Common- 
wealth of  Massachusetts  under  our  existing  constitu- 
tion, the  slopes  of  Pakachoag  and  the  borders  of  the 
beautiful  Quinsigamond  —  midway  between  Boston  and 


86  BI-CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

Springfield  and  a  day's  journey  from  either  —  had  been 
selected  and  occupied  for  settlement.  By  so  long  a 
period  does  Worcester  antedate  the  foundation  of  our 
ancient  Commonwealth  under  its  present  organization. 
The  men  who  first  placed  their  dwellings  here  came 
not  as  adventurers,  but  to  found  homes,  to  perform 
labor,  to  encounter  hardship,  to  subdue  the  wilder- 
ness, to  overcome  the  savagery  of  man  and  nature. 
Supported  and  solaced  by  religion,  devoted  to  home, 
church  and  liberty,  united  in  bonds  of  brotherhood, 
they  set  themselves  heroically  to  the  Lord's  work  and 
considered  no  sacrifice  in  its  behalf  too  great  for  them 
to  endure.  As  is  true  in  all  times,  the  history  of  this 
people  illustrates  most  clearly  the  characteristics  of  the 
first  founders.  Though  generations,  one  after  another, 
have  come  and  gone,  the  early  impressions  are  still 
visible  in  the  character  of  the  inhabitants  of  to-day  and 
will  mould  and  shape  the  institutions  of  the  future. 

As  hand  in  hand  with  the  orator  we  have  wandered 
up  and  down  the  familiar  hills,  along  the  beautiful 
valleys,  by  river  and  lake,  over  paths  first  trod  by  the 
foot  of  the  savage,  we  have  lingered  at  the  old  home- 
steads, recalled  the  scenes  of  the  past,  witnessed  the 
struggles  of  the  earlier  days  and  the  greater  achieve- 
ments in  later  time,  until  we  stand  in  mute  wonder  at 
the  transformation  of  the  lonely  hamlet  into  the  thriving 
city,  beautified  and  illustrated  with  homes,  churches, 
schools,  colleges,  libraries,  factories,  asylums,  —  a  city 
unsurpassed  in  our  State  in  the  general  thrift  and 
contentment  of  the  people. 


GOVERNOR  ROBINSON'S  ADDRESS.  87 

The  sentiment  of  this  community  has  ever  been 
largely  influential  in  determining  the  policy  of  the  State. 
The  record  of  official  service  has  been  singularly 
adorned,  in  all  departments,  by  the  ability  and  integrity 
of  the  men  upon  whom  public  trusts  have  been  placed. 
Notwithstanding  the  many  honored  incumbents  Wor- 
cester has  furnished  for  the  highest  executive  chair  of 
the  Commonwealth,  there  has  always  been  an  abiding 
conviction  that  she  had  never  exhausted  the  number  of 
her  citizens  who  were  equal  to  the  responsibiHty,  and 
if,  perchance,  the  people  of  the  State  evinced  a  purpose 
to  invite  a  citizen  of  some  other  municipality  to  the 
gubernatorial  office,  the  voice  of  Worcester  could  not 
be  safely  disregarded  in  making  the  selection. 

It  is  out  of  such  towns  and  cities  —  by  so  high  order 
of  citizenship  ■ —  by  the  general  intelligence,  enterprise, 
industry,  sobriety  and  uprightness  of  the  people  —  that 
Massachusetts  has  attained  her  high  rank  as  an  honored 
and  prosperous  free  Commonwealth  —  expressive  of  the 
highest  genius  and  inspiration  of  the  republic. 

•'The  riches  of  the  Commonwealth 
Are  free,  strong  minds  and  hearts  of  health. 
And  more  to  her  than  gold  or  grain,  , 

The  cunning  hand  and  cultured  brain." 

While  we  express  pride  at  the  past,  we  must  remem- 
ber that  the  burden  of  the  present  rests  upon  us.  The 
future  will  write  its  judgment  of  the  present.  To-day 
the  searcher  of  history  is  not  sure  of  the  origin  of  the 
name  of  this  city  of  Worcester,  but  in  the  coming  time, 
if   the   promise   of   the   present   is   wrought   out,   the 


88  BI-CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

numerous  communities  scattered  over  the  land,  name- 
sakes of  yours,  will  point  to  this  city,  and  not  across 
the  Atlantic  to  heighten  the  dignity  of  their  names.  I 
thank  you,  Mr.  Mayor,  for  your  invitation  to  join  in  this 
celebration,  and  I  bi'ing  to  Worcester  the  congratula- 
tions of  Massachusetts  and  abundant  greeting. 


Hon.  Charles  Devens  was  the  next  speaker,  and  made  the 
closing  address  of  the  evening,  as  follows  : 

HON.    CHARLES   DEYENS'S   ADDRESS. 


Mr.  Mayor  and  Fellow-citizens : 

I  DO  not  know  exactly  why  I  am  called  upon  as  a 
guest,  for  I  consider  myself  a  citizen  of  Worcester,  and 
can  produce  that  best  of  all  evidence,  a  receipted  tax 
bill.  Whether  I  had  been  invited  or  not,  I  should  have 
come,  and  one  does  not  like  to  be  treated  as  a  guest 
when  he  thinks  he  is  in  his  own  house. 

The  highest  place  of  honor  is  given  by  Lord  Bacon 
to  those  who  have  been  the  founders  of  States  and  those 
older  nations  whose  origin  is  lost  in  the  mists  of  antiquity 
have  invested  those  from  whom  they  claimed  their 
descent  with  the  drapery  of  fiction  and  romance.  The 
Romans  held  that  Romulus  descended  from  the  immor- 
tal gods  themselves. 

But  we  know  the  founders  of  New  England  as  they 
were  —  no  mists  obscure,  no  romance  throws  around 
them  its  glittering  halo  —  with  many  imperfections, 
doubtless  (imperfections  that  have  been  sometimes  too 
much  insisted  on),  they  were  ever  far  in  advance  of 
the  age  in  which  they  lived.     If  we  do  not  think  on  all 


90  BI-CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

points  as  they  did,  if  we  deem  that  our  liberality  is 
larger  and  wider,  we  shall  still  do  well  to  imitate  their 
firm  faith,  their  devotion  to  duty,  their  readiness  to 
sacrifice  all  material  prosperity  to  what  they  held  to  be 
just  and  right.  Grave  and  stern  they  were  :  they 
came  to  make  homes  for  themselves  and  their  faith  in 
the  wilderness,  to  meet  the  murderous  savage,  to 
encounter  the  rude  climate,  to  subdue  the  stubborn  soil, 
and  to  brave  the  wrath,  if  need  be,  of  a  powerful  king. 
Earnestly  and  thoughtfully  they  counted  all  the  cost 
and  their  glance  was  never  turned  back. 

It  is  interesting  to  know  that  the  three  names  before 
us,  as  the  founders  of  our  city,  are  those  of  three  soldiers 
of  the  great  army  of  the  Pai-liament  of  England  ;  and 
not  less  interesting  to  learn  that  our  corporate  name  is 
derived,  not  from  that  of  the  ancient  city  of  Worcester, 
but  from  the  battle  fought  there,  of  which  Oliver  Crom- 
well always  spoke  as  "the  crowning  mercy  of  the 
Lord."  As  we  summon  these  men  by  the  power  of 
the  imagination  before  us  we  may  see  them  as  they 
stood  together  on  that  day,  forever  memorable  in  the 
history  of  English  liberty. 

"  Such  faces  glared  from  Ire  ton's  grim  platoons, 
Such  figures  rode  with  Slvippon's  stout  dragoons." 

The  colonies  of  England  in  this  country  were  very 
various  in  their  origin  and  views,  and  it  is  a  matter  of 
some  surprise  that  at  the  period  of  our  revolution  it 
was  possible  so  well  to  unite  them.  To  some  even  a 
monarchical  government  was  not  distaseful,  if  its  exac- 
tions were  not  unreasonable.     But  the  people  of  New 


HON.  CHARLES  DEVENS'S  ADDRESS.  91 

England  knew  always  why  their  fathers  had  left  the 
pleasant  fields  of  old  England  and  made  their  home 
here.  Others  might  have  come  tempted  by  enterprise 
or  the  advantages  that  a  new  world  might  offer.  They 
came  for  neither  wealth  nor  gain,  but  in  the  assertion 
of  their  liberty  to  think  and  act  as  conscience  bade 
them.  It  is  their  spirit  that  has  pervaded  New 
England  always  with  high  resolve  and  determined 
purpose  when  hours  of  trial  have  come.  It  was  that 
when  the  time  of  separation  from  England  came  that 
filled  our  councils  with  men  like  John  Adams  and  gave 
strength  and  fire  to  our  armies.  It  was  the  same  spirit 
which,  when  the  war  of  the  rebellion  burst  upon  us, 
nerved  the  arms  and  gave  courage  to  the  hearts  of  the 
young  and  brave  whom  we  sent  forth  to  die  upon  a 
hundred  battle-fields.  What  were  "the  boys,"  as  you 
loved  to  call  them  twenty-three  years  ago,  but  "the 
bronze  recast  of  the  old  heroic  ages." 

And  as  I  speak  of  them  and  recall  the  remarks  of  the 
orator  of  the  evening,  let  me  remember  among  those 
very  dear  to  me,  the  Emmet  Guards,  which  were 
'  included  in  my  first  command.  Wlien  the  war  broke 
out  they  preserved  only  a  social  organization  and  were 
not  in  the  militia  of  the  State.  They  had  been 
disbanded  in  a  storm,  such  as  sometimes  sweeps  over 
communities,  and  which  forbade  any  companies  except 
those  composed  of  men  of  native  birth.  When  the 
word  for  marching  came  they  said  to  me,  while  in 
charge  of  getting  together  the  battalion,  the  command 
of  which  I  had  accepted,  "  We  are  not  of  the  militia  of 


92  BI-CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

Massachusetts,  but  we  are  ready  to  go  with  you  if  our 
officers  can  be  regularly  commissioned  and  recognized 
as  a  part  of  the  militia  of  the  State."  Certainly  no 
request  was  ever  more  reasonable  nor  any  offer  more 
gallant.  It  cost  a  telegram  of  five  lines  to  send  it  to 
Governor  Andrew  and  you  all  know  how  he  answered  it. 
But,  my  friends,  let  me  not  by  words  of  mine  inter- 
rupt the  current  of  thought  inspired  by  the  lips  of  our 
orator.  Looking  back  foi*  two  hundred  years  we  stand 
on  the  verge  of  a  new  century.  We  have  a  right  to  a 
just  pride  in  the  city  which  is  ours,  with  its  temples  of 
worship,  its  marts  of  business,  its  workshops  and  forges 
which  send  out  the  streaming  blazonry  of  their  fires 
through  the  silent  night,  but  we  are  prouder  still  of  its 
thousand  happy  homes.  The  future  has  no  doubt  its 
trials  and  its  struggles  for  us  and  for  those  who  are  to 
come  after  us,  yet  let  us  hope  they  are  to  be  those  of 
peace.  May  we  rear  here  great  captains,  but  may  they 
be  captains  in  the  armies  of  industry,  whose  pathway 
shall  be  marked,  not  by  devastated  fields  or  the  smoke 
that  goes  up  from  the  conquered  town,  but  by  the  smil- 
ing village  and  the  cheerful  light  from  the  contented 
fireside  of  those  whose  labor  has  received  its  just 
reward.  May  they  be  captains  whose  victories  are 
won  for  the  common  comfort  and  happiness  of  all  men. 
Large  as  our  product  now  may  be,  whether  computed 
in  tons  or  counted  in  dollars,  still  may  the  largest  and 
the  best  product  of  Worcester  always  be  noble,  high- 
souled  men  and  women. 


From  Mechanics  Hall,  at  the  close  of  the  exercises,  the 
Committee  escorted  the  guests  of  the  city  to  the  Bay  State 
House,  where  a  collation  was  provided,  thus  closing  the 
features  of  the  evening. 

THE    STREET   PARADE. 


Wednesday,  the  loth  of  October,  was  celebrated  with  an 
enthusiasm  inspiring  to  see.  It  is  safe  to  say  that  never 
before  during  the  two  centuries  of  the  existence  of  Worcester 
as  town  and  city  had  so  many  people  been  brought  within 
corporate  limits  as  in  the  throngs  that  filled  the  streets  on  the 
da}'^  of  the  great  procession. 

The  citizens  entered  fully  into  the  meaning  of  the  occasion. 
Decorations  were  abundant  and  displayed  with  great  skill  and 
taste,  showing  on  either  side  of  the  principal  thoroughfares 
continuous  lines  of  bunting,  mottoes,  portraits  of  Washington 
and  revolutionary  heroes,  and  goddesses  of  liberty.  The 
shop  windows  abounded  in  displayed  relics  of  the  ancient 
times,  old  maps,  and  pictures  of  Worcester  and  curiosities  and 
antiques  in  endless  variety. 

Says  the  S^y  of  October  16th  : 

"  It  was  a  gala  day  for  Worcester.  In  the  celebration  old  and  young 
joined,  and  from  the  neighboring  towns  came  thousands  to  witness  the 
festivities.  The  various  railroads  brought  in  more  than  15,000  people,  which, 
added  to  the  arrivals  of  the  day  previous  and  those  who  came  by  private  con- 
veyance, made  the  number  of  strangers  fully  25,000.  It  is  not  an  extrava- 
gant estimate  to  place  the  number  iu  the  streets  when  the  procession  was 
moving  at  upwards  of  80,000.  Good  order  prevailed  all  day.  Worcester 
people  were  satisfied  with  what  had  been  provided  for  them,  and  visitors 
were  fully  convinced  that  the  progressive  spirit  which  has  put  Worcester 
where  it  is  to-day  still  exists,  and  will  carry  the  city  forward  in  its  third 
century." 

Says  the  Worcester  Evening  Gazette  of  the  same  date  : 

"  The  decorations  were  the  most  general  and  elaborate  ever  seen  in  Wor- 
cester,  and  speak  the  interest  and  co-operation  with   which  the  event  is 


94  BI-CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

welcomed  by  all  classes  of  citizens.  We  have  made  some  mention  of 
localities  decorated,  but  no  description  can  give  an  idea  of  their  extent  and 
variety.  The  crowds,  which  were  thronging  everywhere,  found  ample  occu- 
pation in  gazing  and  admiring." 

The  city  decorations  included  the  arch  over  Main  Street  in 
front  of  the  entrance  to  the  City  Hall,  the  City  Hall  building, 
the  Old  South  Church,  the  Soldiers'  and  the  Bigelow  monu- 
ments, Mechanics  Hall,  and  around  the  north,  east  and  south 
sides  of  the  Common.  The  arch  which  spanned  Main  Street 
was  of  white  and  bore  upon  its  south  side  the  Latin  motto 
"  Civitas  in  bello  et  inpacejidelis,'"  ^  a  free  translation  of  which 
is  "A  city  faithful  in  war  and  in  peace."  Below  the  motto  on 
either  side  were  shields  with  the  dates  — 1684,  1884  —  and 
near  the  base,  figures  of  the  Revolutionary  soldier.  On  the 
north  side  were  the  words  :  ' '  The  Heart  of  the  Common- 
wealth welcomes  home  her  Sons  and  Daughters."  Below, 
the  shields  and  dates  were  repeated,  and  the  figures  upon  the 
base  were,  on  one  side,  a  portrait  of  Washington,  upon  the 
other,  the  Goddess  of  Liberty.  Pendant  from  the  arch  hung 
festoons  of  laurel  leaves  ;  over  the  keystone  was  the  figure  of 
an  eagle  with  a  cluster  of  flags  upon  either  side.  Flags  were 
also  supported  on  short  stafis  at  each  side  of  the  arch  ;  other 
flags  hung  at  the  sides. 

On  the  front  of  the  City  Hall  the  central  figure  represented 
Washington  mounted.  The  background  was  a  large  flag 
caught  at  the  top  in  the  talons  of  a  gilt  eagle.  The  remain- 
ing decorations  of  the  front  were  festoons  of  bunting  with 
small  flags  at  the  corners  and  upon  the  lamp  posts.  On  the 
north  side  the  central  figure  was  the  Goddess  of  Liberty, 
surrounded  by  streamers  of  bunting  looped  from  corner  to 
corner  of  the  building ;  at  the  upper  corners  were  large  flags. 
The  east  entrance  to  the  hall  was  draped  with  flags  and 
bunting. 

On  the  west  side  of  the  Old  South  Church  the  centre  was 
an   allegorical  picture   surrounded  by  flags  and  bunting,  the 


iThis  motto  was  received  by  the  City  of  Worcester,  England,  from  Charles  II.  at 
the  Restoration. 


THE    STREET   PARADE.  95 

latter  caught  up  to  the  top  of  the  second  window  from  each 
end  of  the  building.  Flags  were  also  suspended  from  the 
tops  of  the  windows.  On  the  north  front  hung  festoons  of 
bunting,  flags  and  shields,  and  on  the  south  end  bunting  and 
flags  and  a  full-length  portrait  of  Washington.  There  was 
also  a  band  of  bunting  around  the  lower  part  of  the  belfry. 

A  white  banner  hung  on  the  east  side,  and  upon  it  were 
inscribed  the  names  of  twenty-live  of  the  early  settlers  in  the 
town  : — 

Daniel  Henchman,  Nathl.   Henchman, 

John  Wing,  Ephraim  Curtis, 

Thomas   Brown,  William  Weeks, 

Thomas  x\therton,     "  Isaac  Bull, 

George  Pyke,  Caleb  Sawyer, 

John  Turner,  William  Paine, 

Daniel  Turell,  Digory  Serjent, 

James  Holmes,  Isaac  Tomlin, 

Mathew  Tomlin,  George  Rosbury, 

Thomas  Hall,  Peter  Goulding, 

Samuel  Daniel,  George  Ripley, 

Charles  Williams,  Alex.  Bogell, 

Isaac  George. 

The  Soldiers'  Monument  and  the  Col.  Timothy  Bigelow 
Monument  were  each  decorated  with  streamers  and  garlands 
of  bunting  interwoven.  Lines  of  small  banners  were  hung 
at  intervals  across  Front  Street,  Salem  Square  and  Park 
Street.  On  Salem  Square  the  lines  of  small  banners  were 
continued,  and  at  the  east  end  of  the  Common  was  designated 
the  place  of  the  old  burial-ground,  the  second  place  used  for 
that  purpose  in  the  town.  Arches  of  red,  white  and  blue 
bunting  were  erected  over  Front  Street,  Salem  Square  and 
Park  Street,  making  a  very  fine  effect  as  the  procession 
passed  under  them. 

Beginning  at  the  foot  of  Chatham  Street  and  passing  down 
Main  Street  towards  the  North,  the  business  blocks  were  very 


96  BI-CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

handsomely  decorated,  in  many  instances,  and  in  nearly  all 
places  some  recognition  of  the  day  was  made. 

On  the  front  of  Mechanics  Hall,  the  centre-piece  was 
formed  by  a  large  flag  gathered  in  the  centre,  over  which  in 
large  gilt  letters  on  a  dark  ground  were  the  words  "  Worcester 
Bi-Centennial."  Long  streamers  of  bunting  crossed  from 
above  and  below  surrounded  the  centre-piece,  a  broad  band 
of  bunting  extended  across  above  the  second  story  windows, 
and  streamers  were  hung  from  the  apex  of  the  front  to  the 
corners.  Lines  of  small  banners  were  hung  from  the  corners 
of  the  building  to  the  end  of  the  flag  staff'. 

It  was  a  happy  thought,  giving  up  Court  House  Hill  to  the 
school  children,  from  which  point  of  secure  advantage  several 
thousands  of  them  watched  the  parade  with  unceasing  interest. 
The  best  of  order  was  maintained,  and  the  bright,  cheerful 
faces  of  the  young  people  was  strong  evidence  that  they 
thoroughly  enjoyed  the  pageant  and  appreciated  the  efforts 
of  those  who  had  provided  for  their  comfort. 

About  400  pupils  of  the  High  and  Grammar  Schools,  under 
the  direction  of  Principal  A.  S.  Roe  of  the  High  School,  also 
took  part  in  the  procession. 

That  all  the  arrangements  were  most  carefully  perfected 
was  shown  by  the  promptness  and  precision  of  every  move- 
ment made  in  connection  with  the  celebration.  Not  only  was 
the  procession  well  handled,  but  the  minor  details,  which 
had  so  much  to  do  with  the  grand  success,  were  most  fully 
perfected. 

Promptly  at  ten  o'clock  the  strokes  on  the  fire  alarm  bells 
gave  the  signal,  and  15  minutes  later,  at  the  exact  time 
appointed,  the  procession  was  in  motion,  the  several  divisions 
falling  in  promptly.  There  were  twelve  brass  bands  in  the 
line,  and  between  4,000  and  5,000  men. 

For  the  promptness  with  which  the  procession  was  started 
and  the  admirable  manner  in  which  all  the  details  were 
carried  out,  especial  credit  is  due  to  Chief  Marshal  Pickett 
and  his  very  efficient  corps  of  aides  and  assistants. 

The  City   Marshal  had  been   instructed  by  the  Mayor  to 


THE  PROCESSION.  97 

keep  the  following  streets  clear  of  carriages  during  the  forma- 
tion and  passage  of  the  procession ;  and  so  well  was  this  duty 
attended  to,  as  were  also  other  services  of  the  police,  that 
Chief  Marshal  Pickett  sent  a  special  letter  of  acknowledgment 
to  City  Marshal  Atkinson  thanking  him  for  the  efficient  work 
of  his  department. 

Main  Street  from  Claremont  Street  to  Lincoln  Square. 
Highland  Street  from  Lincoln  Square  lo  Harvard  Street. 
Harvard  Street  from  Highland  Street  to  Bowdoin  Street. 
Bowdoin  Street  from  Harvard  Street  to  Chestnut  Street. 
Chestnut  Street  from  Bowdoin  Street  to  Cedar  Street. 
Cedar  Street  from  Chestnut  Street  to  Oak  Street. 
Oak  Street  from  Cedar  Street  to  Elm  Street. 
Elm  Street  from  Main  Street  to  Oak  Street. 
Ashland  Street  from  Elm  Street  to  Pleasant  Street. 
Pleasant  Street  from  Main  Street  to  West  Street. 
Irving  Street  from  Pleasant  Street  to  Chatham  Street. 
Chatham  Street  from  Irving  Street  to  Main  Street. 
May  Street  from  Main  Street  to  Silver  Street. 
Silver  Street  from  May  Street  to  Claremont  Street. 
Claremont  Street  from  Silver  Street  to  Main  Street. 
Park  Street  from  Main  Street  to  Salem  Square. 
Salem  Square  from  Park  Street  to  Front  Street. 
Front  Street  from  Main  Street  to  Bridge  Street. 
Bridge  Street  from  Front  Street  to  Foster  Street. 
Foster  Street  from  Main  Street  to  Bridge  Street. 


THE   PROCESSION. 

[Note.— The  dagger  (t)  indicates  that  the  person  against  whose  name  it  is  placed  served  in  the  Union  army  or 
navy  in  the  war  of  the  rebellion.] 

The  make-up   of  the    procession,   which    was  an    hour  in 
passing  a  given  point,  was  as  follows  : 

Mounted  Police,  City  Marshal  Amos  Atkinson  commanding. 

Escort  of  the  Chief  Marshal. 

American  Brass  Band  of  Providence,  24  pieces,  D.  C.  Reeves,  leader. 

Worcester  Continentals,  70.  men,  Lieut. -Col.  W.  S.  B.  Hopkins,!  commanding. 

Staff. 

Chief  of  Stafl",  Capt.  Nathaniel  Paine;  1st  Lieut,  and  Adjutant,  E.  A.  "Wood;t 

1st  Lieut,  and   Quartermaster,    W.  D.  Holbrook;    Capt.    and 

Judge   Advocate,   John  R.    Thayer;  2d  Lieut. 

and  Commissary,  N.  S.  Liscomb.f 


98  BI-CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

Non-commissioned  Staff. 

Sergeant  Major,  William  McCreacly;t  Sergeant,  EUery  B.  Crane; 

Sergeant   and   Clerk,    Geo.    H.    Harlow ;    Sergeant  and 

Treasurer,  Chas.  A.  Waite. 

Honorary  Staff. 

Capt.  Augustus  Whittemore,  Capt.  W,  H.  Cundy,  Maj.  Charles  W.  Stevens, 
Lieut.  George  H.  Gibson,  Lieut.  G.  H.  Allen,  all  of  the  Ancient  and  Honorable 
Artillery  Company  of  Boston;  Col.  C.  M.  Van  Slyck,  Lieut.-Col.  L  L.  Goff, 
Capt.  J.  F.  Dufi'y,  Capt.  E.  M.  Clark,  Quartermaster  E.  Brown,  Assistant 
Quartermaster  McStirn,  Paymaster  E.  C.  Danforth  and  Assistant  Surgeon 
Keene,  all  of  the  United  Train  of  Artillery  of  Providence;  Col.  E.  J.  Trull, 
Gen.  D.  W.  Wardrop,  Capt.  J.  Bensemoil,  Lieut.  W.  G.  Shillaber,  Lieut.  F. 
H.  Little,  of  the  Boston  Light  Infantry  Veterans ;  Lieut.  Samuel  Hobbs  and 
Lieut.  Howard  Wade,  of  the  Boston  Light  Infantry ;  Lieut.-Col.  A.  C.  Eddy 
and  Lieut.  J.  H.  Welch,  of  the  Providence  Light  Infantry  Veteran  Association. 

Line: — Co.  C,  Capt.  W.  S.  Jourdan;  Co.  D  (colors),  1st  Lieut.  John  N. 
Morse,  Jr.,  commanding;  Co.  A,  1st  Lieut.  H.  J.  Jennings, f  commanding; 
Co.  B,  Capt.  Chas.  B.  Whiting. 

Colt's  Band  of  Hartford,  25  pieces,  W.  C.  Sparry,  leader. 

Governor's  Foot  Guards  of  Hartford,  120  men,  Major  J.  C.  Kinney 
commanding. 

Staff: — Adjutant,  J.  Robert  Dwyer;  Paymaster,  C.  Strong;  Quartermaster, 
L.  T.  Fenn;  Commissary,  Leander  Hall;  Judge  Advocate,  E.  Henry  Hyde; 
Surgeon,  W.  A.  M.  Wainwright;  Inspector.  R.  L.  Hungerford;  Engineer, 
George  B.  Fisher. 

Line  Officers: — Captain  J.  C.  Pratt;  2d  Lieutenant,  Theodore  Naudel;  3d 
Lieutenant,  F.  C.  Clark;  Ensign,  Horace  Lord. 

CHIEF  MARSHAL,  GEN.  JOSIAH  PICKETT.f 

Chief  of  Staff,  Major  E.  T.  Raymond.! 

Surgeon,  Dr.  J.  Marcus  Rice;t  Assistant-Surgeon,  Dr.  Charles  H.  Davis; 
Chaplain,  Rev.  Joseph  F.  Levering  ;t  Quartermaster,  David  Boyden;t  Assis- 
tant-Quartermaster, Lieut.  J.  B.  Willard;t  Commissary,  Harlan  Fairbanks;! 
Assistant-Commissary,  John  F.  Bicknell;t  Provost  Marshal,  Joseph  M. 
Dyson.f 

Aides. 

Gen.  A.  B.  R.  Sprague,t  Col.  T.  S.  Johnson,  Maj.  Joseph  P.  Mason,  Maj. 
L.  G.  White,  Capt.  George  M.  Woodward,!  Capt.  James  Connor,t  Capt. 
Charles  S.  Chapin,t  Capt.  Winslow  S.  Lincoln,  Wm.  J.  Hogg,  Charles  S. 
Barton,  George  B.  Witter,  Frank  E.  Lancaster,  Edward  0.  Parker,  Noel  E. 
Converse,!  Color  Bearer;  Lucius  White,  Bugler. 


THE  PROCESSION.  99 

Honorary  Staff. 

Gen.  S.  H.  Leonard,!  Col.  J.  M.  Drennau.f  Col.  J.  M.  Studley.f  Lieut.W.  B. 
Harding,t  Dr.  Napoleon  Jacques,  Stephen  Salisbury,  Seneca  M.  Richardson, 
Charles  W.  Wood.t  George  B.  Buckingham,  Maj.  Chas.  H.  Davis, f  Dr.  H.  Y. 
Simpson,  R.  J.  Tatman,  William  H.  Bliss,  Alzirus  Brown,  George  E.  Boyden, 
E.  B.  Crane,  Capt.  John  S.  Baldwin,!  Maj.  Frank  E.  Goodwin,!  Maj.  B.  D. 
Dwinnell,!  Dr.  Albert  Wood.! 


FIRST   DIVISION. 

Fitchburg  Band,    G.    D.    Patz,   leader. 

Sacred  Heart  Cadets  and  St.  Anne's  Cadet  Drum  Corps. 

Marshal,  Gen.  R.  H.  Chamberlain;!  Assistant  Marshals,  Major  E.  R.  Shum- 
way,!  Lieut.  P.  L.  Rider. 

Worcester  Light  Infantry,  50  men,  Captain,  Edward  A.  Harris;   1st  Lieut. 
Aaron  S.  .Taft;  2d  Lieut.  William  A.  Pickett. 

Worcester  City  Guards,  51   men.  Captain,  George  H.  Cleveland;  1st  Lieut. 
James  Early ;  2d  Lieut.  W.  D.  Preston. 

Co.  F,  Second  Regiment,  M.  V.  M.,  of  Gardner,  48  men.  Captain,  Solon  T. 
Chamberlain;  1st  Lieut.  Chas.  N.  Edgell, ;  2d  Lieut.  Jonas  Sawin. 

George  H.  Ward  Post  10,  G.  A.  R.,  Department  of  Massachusetts,  150  men, 

Commander,  Wm.  L.  Robinson;'  Senior  Vice  Commander,  Harvey  T. 

Buck ;  Junior  Vice  Commander,  Cephas  N.  Walker ; 

Adjutant,  Chas.  H.  Benchley. 

1st  Co.,  Captain,  George  H.  Conklin. 
2d  Co.,  Captain,  G.  A.  B.  Hill. 

3d  Co.,  Captain,  John  J.  Upham. 

4th  Co.,  Captain,  David  W.  Roach. 

6th  Co.,  Captain,  George  Weeks. 

6th  Co.,  Captain,  J.  J.  Beaumont. 

7th  Co.,  Captain,  C.  W.  Wilson. 
8th  Co.,  Captain,  Nelson  Stark. 

Color  Co.,  Captain,  John  G.  Brewer. 

10th  Co.,  Captain,  J.  N.  Jones. 

nth  Co.,  Captain,  Herbert  A.  Kimball. 

12th  Co.,  Captain,  George  H.  Hathorne, 

13th  Co.,  Captain,  A.  E.  Stearns. 

General  A.  A.  Goodell   Camp,  No.  2,  Sons  of  Veterans,  30  men ;    Captain, 

E.  A.  Gleason ;  1st  Lieutenant,  George  K.  Robinson ; 

2d  Lieutenant,  Fred.  M.  Templeton. 

Emmet  Guards,  40  men ;  Captain,  Wm.  Regan ;  1st  Lieutenant,  T.  F.  McAuley ; 
2d  Lieutenant,  Bernard  Wilmot. 


100  BI-CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

St.   John's  Cadets,   35  men;  Captain,  J.  J.   Hughes;    1st  Lieutenant,  L.  J. 
Louther ;  2d  Lieutenant,  T.  Herr. 

Sacred  Heart  Cadets,  35  men;  Captain  James  Grady,  Commander;  Captain, 

T.  J.  Calvin  ;  1st  Lieutenant,  Edward  Campbell ; 

2d  Lieutenant,  Daniel  McAuliffe. 

St.  Anne's  Cadets,  50  men  ;  Captain,  J.  E.  Underwood ;  1st  Lieutenant,  Thomas 
Joyce ;  2d  Lieutenant,  John  Cronin. 

St.  Anne's  Temperance  Guards,  42  men;  Captain,  Jeremiah  Mara;  1st  Lieu- 
tenant, Dennis  ClifiFord ;  2d  Lieutenant,  Edward  Fitzpatrick. 

Battery  B,   Light    Artillery,    1st  Brigade,    M.    V.    M. ;    Captain,  Ered.   W. 

Wellington;  Senior  1st  Lieutenant,  Mason  A.  Boyden;t   Junior 

1st  Lieutenant,  Henry  E.  Smith  ;t  2d  Lieutenant, 

John  E.  Merrill. 

His  Honor  Charles  G.  Reed,  Mayor,  with  the  following  guests  of  the  city, 
in  carriages : — His  Excellency  Governor  Robinson,  Adjt.-Gen.  Dalton,  the 
Governor's  StaflF,  Major  Ben :  Perley  Poore,  Hon.  W.  W.  Rice,  P.  L.  Moen, 
Hon.  Charles  B.  Pratt,  Hon.  Thomas  A.  Doyle,  Mayor  of  Providence;  Hon. 
Hervey  G.  Lewis,  Mayor  of  New  Haven;  Hon.  John  Breen,  Mayor  of 
Lawrence;  Hon.  James  E.  Delaney,  Mayor  of  Holyoke;  Hon.  John  J. 
Donovan,  Mayor  of  Lowell;  Hon.  J.  Wesley  Kimball,  Mayor  of  Newton; 
Hon.  Augustus  P.  Martin,  Mayor  of  Boston;  Hon.  Thomas  Strahan,  Mayor 
of  Chelsea;  Hon.  Alonzo  Davis,  Mayor  of  Fitchburg;  Hon.  Lewis  T.  Fuller, 
Mayor  of  Maiden ;  Hon.  J.  C.  Lathrop,  Mayor  of  Dover,  N.  H. ;  Hon.  Calvin 
Page,  Mayor  of  Portsmouth,  N.  H. ;  Hon.  Daniel  H.  Morgan,  Mayor  of 
Bridgeport,  Conn. ;  Hon.  T.  L.  Nelson,  Prof.  Francis  O.  March,  of  Lafayette 
College,  Penn. ;  Hon.  Clark  Jillson,  A.  G.  Walker,  George  Crompton,  Hon. 
F.  H.  Kelley,  Hon.  Edward  L.  Davis,  Hon.  E.  B.  Stoddard,  Hon.  Peter  C. 
Bacon,  J.  Henry  Hill,  F.  P.  Goulding,  Waldo  Lincoln,  Henry  A.  Marsh, 
Samuel  S.  Green,  J.  H.  Walker,  W.  E.  Rice,  and  Members  of  the  City 
Government. 

SECOND     DIVISION. 


Marshal,  Major  Nathan  Taylor. f 

Assistant  Marshals,  Capt.  C.  N.  Hair.f  Dr.  W.  H.  Sears,  Horace  W.  Willson. 

Worcester  Brass  Baud,  23  pieces,  L.  D.  Waters,  leader. 

Worcester  Uniformed  Degree  Camp,  No.  3,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  50  men,  John  W. 
Hadley,t  Commander. 

Wachusett  Encampment,  No.  10,  I.  O.  0.  F.,  40  men,  Forbes  B.  Fay,  Chief 
Captain ;  F.  P.  Larkin,  Sub-Captain. 

Mt.  Vernon   Encampment,  No.  53,  I.  O.   0.  F.,  34  men,  B.   0.  Wellman, 
Commander;  Waldo  Vinton,  Assistant. 


THE  PROCESSION.  101 

Quinsigamond  Lodge,   No.   43,  I.   O.   O.   F.,   32  men,   George  F.   Brooks, 
Marshal ;  Walter  Gates,  Assistant  Marshal. 

Worcester  Lodge,  No.  50;  Central  Lodge,  No.  168,  and  Ridgely  Lodge,  No. 

112,  I.  0.  O.  F.,  110  men,  John  F.  Adams,  Marshal;  F.  W.  Blenus 

and  George  A.  Underwood,  Assistant  Marshals. 

Blake  Lodge,  No.  49,  Knights  of  Pythias,  45  men, George  W.  Bemis,  Captain; 
A.  W.  Cunningham,  1st  Lieutenant;  W.  A.  Newgent,  2d  Lieutenant. 

Damascus  Lodge,  No.  51,  Knights  of  Pythias,  50  men;  F.  S.  Montgomery, 
Captain;  A.  B.  Spink,  1st  Lieutenant. 

Integrity  Lodge,  No.  17G8,  G.  U.  O.  F.,  20  men;  Daniel  Edwards,  Marshal. 

First  Regiment,  M.   V.   M.,  Drum  and  Fife  Corps,   23  men;  J.  W.  Clarke, 

Drum  Major. 

Prince  Consort  Lodge,  No.  29,  Sons  of  St.  George,  and  St.  Andrews'  Mutual 

Benefit  Society,  200  meu  ;  Robert  Hale,  President ;  Mark  Froora, 

Marshal;  Isaac  E.  Evons,  George  Palmer,  Assistants. 

High  School  Drum  Corps,  12  drums. 

Worcester  High  School  Battalion,  250  boys;  Pi-incipal,  A.  S.  Roe, 
Commanding. 

Co.  A,  Captain,  E.  Hopkins ;    1st  Lieutenant,  H.  C.  Bemis ;  2d  Lieutenant, 
P.  F.  Gildea;  1st  Sergeant,  R.  C.  Walbridge. 

Co.  B,  Captain,  C.  E.  Burbank;  1st  Lieutenant,  N.  .1.   Chandley;  2d  Lieu- 
tenant, N.  C.  Keyes ;  1st  Sergeant,  F.  E.  Buxton. 

Co.  C,  Captain,  H.  F.  Blood;  1st  Lieutenant,  E.  F.  Garvey;  2d  Lieutenant, 
H.  M.  Blackmer;  1st  Sergeant,  L.  E.  Ware. 

Co.  D,  Captain,  H.  Y.  Follett;    1st  Lieutenant,  J.  G.  Barri ;  2d  Lieutenant, 
M.  F.  Burns;  1st  Sergeant,  J.  W.  Dryden. 

Millbury  Street  Grammar  School,  30  boys;  Wm.  McCarthy,  Captain;  Dennis 
Shea,  1st  Lieutenant;  Johu  McGunn,  2d  Lieutenant. 

Belmont  Street  Grammar  School,  25  boys ;  George  Hill,  Captain ;  Philip  Daly, 
1st  Lieutenant ;  William  Williams,  2d  Lieutenant. 

Dix  Street  Grammar  School,  25  boys ;  Paul  Bronner,  Captain ;  George  Burr, 
1st  Lieutenant ;   J.  Daly,  2d  Lieutenant. 

Washington    Street    Grammar    School,    30    boys;    W.   B.    Hoyt,    Captain; 
J.  Lamson,  1st  Lieutenant ;  H.  Sibley,  2d  Lieutenant. 

Ledge  Street  Grammar  School,  30  boys;  William  Gilfoyle,  Captain;  Charles 
Whitney,  1st  Lieutenant;  D.  Doyle,  2d  Lieutenant. 

Iroquois  Tribe,  Improved  Order  of  Red  Men,  50  men  ;  E.  H.  Dunbar,  Marshal. 


102  BI-CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

THIKD     DIVISION. 

Marshal,  Andrew  Athy. 
Assistant  Marshals,  William  Hickey,t  B.  H.  McMahon,  P.  J.  Quinn. 

Staff. 
Rev.  J.  J.  McCoy,  Chaplain ;  Dr.  T.  A.  Q'Callaghan,  Surgeon. 

Aids. 

Edward  Kearns,  John  Mulvey,  John  Maguire, 
T.  J.  O'Keefe. 

American  Brass  Band,  Natick,  24  pieces,  J.  M.  Flockton,  leader. 

Knights  of  Father  Mathew,  30  men ;  James  Eaton,  Captain ;  P.  M.  O'Brien, 
1st  Lieutenant;  Owen  Gilrain,  2d  Lieutenant. 

Father  Mathew  Total   Abstinence  Society,  200  men ;  Timothy  J.  Murphy, 

Marshal. 

Irish  Catholic  Benevolent  Union,  40  men;  Jere.  Murphy,  Marshal;  William 
J.  Reagan,  William  Harper,  James  McGinnis,  Assistants. 

St.  John's  Drum  Corps,  M.  Gleason,  Drum  Major,  11  men. 

St.  John's  Temperance  Guild,  100  men;  E,  J.  Galvin,  President; 
J.  J.  McCloskey,  Vice  President. 

Leicester  Cornet  Band,  22  pieces,  L.  White,  leader. 

A.  O.  H.  Guards  ol'  Worcester,  60  men ;    Martin  Tracy,  Captain ; 
J.  J.  Milan,  1st  Lieutenant. 

Milford  Brass  Band,  18  pieces,  T.  W.  Kean,  leader. 

Ancient  Order  of  Hibernians,  No.  7,  of  Milford,  40  men;  James  F.  Stratton, 

Commander. 

Ancient  Order   of  Hibernians,   Worcester,  four  divisions,   200  men;    John 

Mulvey,  Marshal;  W.  A.  Carpenter,  John  Burns,  John  F.  Grey, 

Thomas  Moran,  R.  O'Brien,  Side  Marshals. 

Volunteers  of  '82,  50  men  mounted:    William  E.  Griffin,  Commander;  J.  F. 
Quinn,  Captain  Co.  A;  P.  F.  Ryan,  Captain  Co.  B. 


FOUETH    DIVISION. 


Marshal,  Captain  George  L.  Allen. 

Assistant  Marshals,  Captain  Levi  Lincoln,!  Lieut.  Henry  S.  Knight, 
Charles  H.  Bowker. 

Worcester  Cadet  Band,  23  pieces,  E.  D.  Ingraham,  leader. 


THE  PROCESSION.  103 

Garde  Lafayette,  29  men,  Charles  Wilmot,  Captain. 

St.  Jean  Baptiste  Society,  400  men ;  A.  F.  Lamoureux,  Marshal ; 
Eli  Bouchard,  Assistant  Marshal. 

Reform  Club,  25  men ;  Edward  Henshaw,  Marshal ;  Joseph  Tremer, 
Assistant  Marshal. 

Stationary  Engineers,   25  men ;    George  "Weir,  Engineer ;    F.   W.   Mnnroe, 

Assistant  Engineer. 

Viking  Council    Order  of    Mystic  Brothers,    64  men;    Leonard    Wickins, 
Marshal ;  C.  W.  Bildt,  Eric  Kuutssou,  Captains. 

Boston  Cadet  Baud,  30  pieces,  J.  Thomas  Baldwin,  leader. 

German  Societies,  80  men ;    C.  C.  Schwartz,  Marshal ;    Turners,  Christian 

Schencker,    Assistant    Marshal;     Frohsinn,    William    Lichtenfelts, 

Assistant   Marshal;    Einigkeit    No.    44,   D.    O.  H.,    George 

Krumsick,    Assistant  Marshal ;    Independent   Order 

Sons  of  Benjamin,  Max  Feiga,  Assistant 

Marshal. 

Worcester  County  Mechanics  Association,  3  carriages;  Samuel  E.  Hildreth, 

President;  Samuel  Winslow,  "Vice-President;  Wm.  A.  Smith,  Clerk; 

Edwin  T.   Marble,  Thomas  J.  Hastings,!  John  B.  Goodell,t 

James  E.   Fuller,    Charles    H.    Morgan,    Milton    P. 

Higgins,  Fred.  H.  Daniels,  Trustees;  Edwin 

Morse,  Ex-President. 

Worcester  Agricultural  Society,  3  carriages ;  James  W.  Stockwell,  of  Sutton, 

Vice-President;  George  H.  Estabrook,  Secretary;  Wm.  S.  Lincoln, 

Chas.  E.  Miles,  of  Boston,  and  J.  A.  Fayerweather,  of 

Westboro,  Ex-Presidents ; 

O.  B.  Hadwen,  C.  L.  Hartshorn,  Wm.  T.  Merrifield,  Harvey 

Dodge,  of  Sutton,  Trustees ; 

H.    H.   Chamberliu,  Bonura  Nye,  of  North  Brookfield, 

Members,  the  latter  in  his  90th  year,  and  who 

attended  the  first  meeting  of  the 

Society  in  1818. 

Society  of  Antiquity,  2  carriages;    Samuel  E.  Staples,  Ex-President;   Rev. 
T.  E.  St.  John,  Daniel  Seagrave,  Henry  F.  Stedman,  Thomas  A.  Dickinson, 
Franklin  P.  Rice  and  E.  Francis  Thompson. 

Natives  of  Maine,  A.  P.  Marble,  President ;  Sons  of  New  Hampshire,  Addison 

Palmer,  President ;  Sons  of  Vermont,  Charles  G.  Parker,  President, 

and  George  Fisher,  Secretary. 


104  BI-CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

Worcester  Grange,  Patrons  of  Husbandry,  110  mounted  men  and  7  teams; 

Worthy  Master,  F.  A.  Harrington  as  Chief  Marshal;    W.  I.   Allen, 

Aide-de-Camp ;  Overseer,  H.  J.  Allen ;  Lecturer,  J.  E.  Goodell ; 

Steward,  Charles  E.  Bond;  Assistant  Steward,  L.  J. 

Kendall;  Chaplain,  J.  A.  Bancroft;  Treasurer, 

A.  D.  Flagg ;  Color  Bearer,  A.  D.  Perry. 

Car  of  Flora. 

Car  of  Pomona. 

Car  of  Ceres. 

Four  Degree  Cars  : 

First.  — Laborer  and  Maid. 

Second  —  Cultivator  and  Shepherdess. 

Third  —  Harvester  and  Gleaner. 

Fourth  —  Husbandman  and  Matron. 

FIFTH     DIVISION. 

Marlboro  Brass  Band,  25  pieces,  A.  D.  Baker,  leader. 

Marshal,  Chief  Engineer  Simon  E.   Combs ;    Assistant  Marshals,   Assistant 

Engineers  William  Brophy,  George  S   Coleman,  Edwin  L.  Vaughn, 

Charles  M.  Mills. 

Carriages,  containing  Henry  W.  Miller,  Tilley  Raymond,  L.  R.  Hudson,  Erastus 

N.  Holmes,  A.  B.  Lovell,  Alvin  T.   Burgess,  James   L.  Morse   and 

Eli  Fairbanks,  Ex-Engineers  of  the  Department. 

Ex-Firemen,  75  men,  with  hand  engine;  Samuel  H.  Day,  Foreman. 

Insurance  Fire  Patrol,  2  horses;  Hiram  R.  Williamson,  Captain. 

Alert  Hose,  No.  1,  2  horses;  Henry  Robbins,  Foreman. 

Protector  Hose,  No.  7,  2  horses;  William  A.  Adams,  Foreman. 

Steamer  Gov.  Lincoln,  No.  1,  4  horses;  John  J.  Adams,  Foreman. 

Steamer  No.  1  Hose  Carriage,  2  horses. 

Hook  and  Ladder,  J.  W.  Loring,  No.  1,  4  horses;  J.  H.  Perkins,  Foreman. 

Steamer  A.  B.  Lovell,  No.  2,  4  horses ;  John  Wheaton,  Foreman. 

Steamer  No.  2  Hose  Carriage,  2  horses. 

Independent  Hose,  No.  3,  2  horses;  John  Carthy,  Foreman. 

Ocean  Hose,  No.  2,  2  horses ;  David  Boland,  Foreman. 

Steamer  S.  E.  Combs,  No.  3,  6  horses:  Alvin  Prouty,  Foreman. 

Steamer  No.  3  Hose  Carriage,  2  horses. 

Worcester  Cornet  Baud,  21  pieces,  C.  G.  Marcy,  leader. 

Rapid  Hose,  No.  8,  2  horses ;  C.  A.  Humes,  Foreman. 

Chemical  Extinguisher,  No.  1,  2  horses ;  William  Flyuu,  Foreman. 

Tiger  Hose,  No.  6,  2  horses ;  F.  F.  Burbank,  Foreman. 


THE  PROCESSION.  105 

Steamer  Rapid  No.  4,  4  horses. 

Niagara  Hose,  No.  4,  2  horses;  A.  J.  Dresser,  Foi'eman. 

Yankee  Hose,  No.  5,  2  horses ;  Cliflbrd  O.  Lamb,  Foreman. 

Good  Will  Hook  and  Ladder,  No.  2,  4  horses;  John  P.  Fay,  Foreman. 

There  were  so  many  interesting  features  of  the  procession, 
and  each  division  was  so  good  in  itself,  that  particular  men- 
tion of  any  might  be  considered  invidious,  but  by  general 
consent  the  special  features  of  the  parade  (admitted  on  all 
hands  to  have  been  the  best  appearing  and  most  skilfull}'' 
handled  military  and  civic  pageant  ever  seen  in  Worcester), 
were  the  Grangers'  representation  and  the  Fire  Department 
decorations. 

The  Worcester  Grange,  Patrons  of  Husbandry,  had  110 
mounted  men  and  seven  cars  in  line,  each  car  drawn  by 
four  horses.  ,  On  the  breasts  of  the  horses  were  shields, 
inscribed  "Patrons  of  Husbandry,  Worcester  Grange  No. 
22."  These  officers,  accompanied  with  banners,  preceded 
the  cars:  Master,  Francis  A.  Harrington;  Overseer,  H.  J. 
Allen;  Lecturer,  J.  E.  Goodell ;  Chaplain,  John  A.  Ban- 
croft; Steward,  Charles  E.  Bond;  Assistant  Steward,  L.J. 
Kendall ;  Treasurer,  A.  D.  Flagg. 

The  following  is  the  description  of  these  pageants,  as  given 
in  the  Daily  Spy : 

"The  first  car,  representing  Flora,  Goddess  of  Flowers,  was  elaborately 
decorated,  and  Flora,  Mrs.  Hartley  Wadsworth,  with  two  attendants,  was 
seated  on  a  raised  platform.  Each  was  tastefully  attired.  The  motto  was, 
'  To  me  belong  the  Forest,  the  Garden,  and  their  Garlands  of  Flowers.'  The 
second  car,  representing  Pomona,  Goddess  of  Fruits,  had  a  canopy  top,  with 
red,  gold  and  green  trimmings.  At  each  corner  was  a  design  of  fruit  and 
berries,  while  the  canopy  was  hung  with  grapes  and  light  baskets  of  fruits, 
representing  an  arbor.  Pomona,  Miss  Mary  A.  E.  Adams,  with  two  attendants, 
occupied  an  elevated  position.  On  her  right  stood  a  basket  of  fruit,  and  on 
her  left  a  cornucopia  filled  and  decorated  with  fruit.  The  motto  was,  'The 
luscious  product  of  the  Orchard  and  Fruit  Garden  are  mine.' 

"  Ceres,  Goddess  of  Grains,  was  represented  by  Miss  Emma  Midgley,  with 
two  attendants.  The  car  displaced  a  great  amount  of  skill  and  labor  in 
arrangement.  The  cover,  thatched  with  several  varieties  of  grain  in  the 
straw,  was  suspended  by  a  ridgepole  of  traces  of  corn,  and  at  each  corner 
stood  a  sheaf  of  grain.  Ceres  sat  on  a  mound  made  of  bags  of  rye,  oats, 
barley  and  wheat,  on  the  top  of  which  was  a  bag  of  corn  inscribed,  '  Corn  is 
King.'    The  motto  was,  '  My  Tribute  is  the  Golden  Grain.' 


106  BI-CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

"Next  came  four  allegorical  cars,  representing  the  degrees  of  the  order  as 
well  as  the  different  stages  of  agriculture.  The  first  was  built  iu  the  form  of 
a  log  cabin,  with  open  sides.  In  front  stood  a  woodman  with  an  axe,  resting 
on  a  felled  tree,  and  a  plowman  resting  on  a  plow.  At  the  rear  sat  women  at 
the  spinning-wheel,  the  churn  and  other  implements  of  housewifery.  The 
inscriptions  were:  'Faith — Pioneer  of  Civilization;  First  in  Clearing  the 
Field  and  Breaking  the  Sod.' 

"  The  second,  representing  Spring  and  seed  time,  was  covered  with  ever- 
greens, and  men  were  at  work  planting  and  sowing.  At  the  rear  sat  a 
shepherdess  on  a  mound  of  rocks  and  grasses  tending  two  lambs.  Her 
attendant,  a  little  girl,  was  kept  busy  feeding  the  pets.  The  motto  was : 
•Hope — He  that  Tilleth  the  Land  shall  be  Satisfied  with  Bread.' 

"The  third  represented  a  harvest  scene,  the  fi'ont  showing  a  field  of 
standing  grain  with  reapers  and  gleaners,  the  former  resting  on  a  rustic 
fence,  with  sickle  and  cradle,  and  the  latter  seated  on  bundles  of  grain  with 
gleanings  in  their  laps.  At  the  rear  was  a  fine  collection  of  the  products  of 
the  fields— grains,  vegetables  and  fruits.  The  motto  was :  '  Charity — 
Industry  Rewarded.  Thanks  to  God,  who  hath  Blessed  the  Sod  and  Crowns 
the  harvest  Land.' 

"  The  fourth  was  a  home  scene,  with  a  house  of  the  olden  style,  with  porch 
in  front,  chimney  and  fireplace  in  the  rear,  and  sides  open ;  the  object  being 
to  represent  a  farmer's  comfortable  home,  with  the  surroundings  of  a 
numerous  family.  The  emblem  was:  'Fidelity,  the  Hope  of  the  People. 
As  are  the  Homes  so  is  the  Nation.'  There  were  about  150  persons  in  the 
line.  It  was  the  first  attempt  of  anything  of  the  kind  in  the  history  of  the 
order,  and  those  who  planned  and  executed  the  work — especially  Mr.  James 
Draper,  State  Master,  Francis  A.  Harrington,  Master  of  the  Worcester 
Grange,  and  George  H.  Rice,  Chairman  of  the  Bi-Centennial  Committee  on 
the  part  of  the  Grange — are  to  be  congratulated  on  the  success  of  the  display. 

"  Of  much  admired  appearance  was  the  Fire  Department,  its  well  kept  and 
brightly  polished  apparatus  being  seen  gaily  decorated  with  flowers,  ever- 
green and  bunting.  The  Fire  Patrol  wagon  was  covered  with  bunting  and 
evergreen,  and  on  a  pedestal  in  the  centre  was  perched  a  handsome  golden 
eagle.  Hose  No.  1  was  covered  with  a  canopy  of  evergreen  and  flowers,  an 
elegant  floral  wreath  being  suspended  from  the  centre.  Protector  Hose  was 
covered  with  streamers  of  red,  white  and  blue,  tastefully  gathered  around  an 
easel  on  which  was  a  picture  of  the  Chief  Engineer.  Steamer  Gov.  Lincoln 
was  trimmed  with  flowers  and  the  national  colors,  and  the  long  sides  of 
Hook  and  Ladder  No.  1  were  covered  with  the  stars  and  stripes.  Steamer 
No.  2  Hose  Carriage  was  a  mass  of  flowers  and  evergreen.  The  Extinguisher 
was  covered  with  a  handsome  floral  canopy,  and  on  Steamer  No.  3  the  name 
was  handsomely  wrought  in  an  elaborate  floral  design.  The  tiger  of  old 
times  surmounted  the  decorations  of  Hose  No.  6,  and  all  the  other  pieces  of 
apparatus  were  handsomely  decorated  with  the  national  colors  and  handsome 
flowers." 

The    full    and    very    creditable    display   by    our    adopted 
citizens  of  various  nationalities  was  very  generally  commented 


THE  PEOCESSION.  107 

upon,  they  adding  largely  to  the  success  of  the  parade. 
There  were  over  700  Irish,  about  400  French  and  200 
Germans  and  Swedes  in  the  Third  and  Fourth  Divisions. 

As  is  usual  on  such  occasions  in  Worcester,  the  local 
militia  turned  out  in  good  numbers  and  with  the  Grand  Army, 
the  Sons  of  Veterans  and  the  Irish  military  organizations 
made  an  important  part  of  the  procession. 

As  indicating  the  length  of  the  procession,  it  may  be  stated 
that  when  the  head  of  the  column  turned  into  Front  Street, 
the  rear  was  resting  on  Chatham,  near  Main  Street,  on  its 
march  towards  May  Street.  This  would  make  the  length  of 
the  procession  about  two  miles. 

After  the  parade  the  invited  guests  dined  with  the  members 
of  the  Reception  Committee  at  the  Bay  State  House.  Mayor 
Reed  presided,  and  after  the  dinner  short  congratulatory 
speeches  w^ere  made  by  Gov.  Robinson,  Congressman  Rice, 
Mayor  Doyle  of  Providence,  Mayor  Lewis  of  New  Haven, 
and  Mayor  Donovan  of  Lowell.  The  Continentals  gave  a 
dinner  to  their  honorary  staff  at  the  Lincoln  House. 

The  band  concerts  in  the  afternoon  were  a  source  of 
pleasure  to  thousands^  and  on  the  Common  was  gathered  one 
of  the  largest  crowds  ever  seen  there. 

The  artillery  drill  by  Battery  B  at  the  Fair  Grounds  was  to 
many  a  most  interesting  event,  and  was  witnessed  by  a  large 
crowd. 

The  balloon  ascension  proved  a  popular  feature  and  was 
witnessed  by  thousands  of  spectators.  Every  point  of  advan- 
tage was  seized  upon  at  an  early  hour.  A  large  iron  pipe 
from  the  gas  works  led  to'  the  vacant  lot  on  the  corner  of 
Sigel  Street  and  Quinsigamond  Avenue,  in  the  south  part  of 
the  city,  and  the  filling  of  the  monster  air  ship  began  at  10.30 
in  the  morning.  Shortly  before  3  o'clock  the  two  Aliens, 
James  and  James  K.,  and  Dr.  W.  H.  Raymenton  entered  the 
basket.  At  3  o'clock  the  word  was  given,  but  it  was  found 
sufficient  buoyancy  was  lacking  ;  bag  after  bag  of  ballast  was 
thrown  out,  until  at  3.01  the  word  was  again  given,  the  rope 
was  cast  off,  and  the  party  started  on  their  voyage  amid  the 


108  BI-CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

cheers  of  the  crowd.  It  did  not  move  directly  up,  however, 
but  drifted  slowly  away  to  the  south-east,  rising  gradually. 
Long  streamers  were  cast  off  and  their  lazy  movements 
showed  the  extreme  lightness  of  the  breeze.  After  a  few 
hours'  flight  the  balloon  came  down  in  an  open  field  owned 
by  C.  A.  &  S.  M.  Wheelock,  about  one  mile  from  the  centre 
of  the  town  of  Uxbridge. 

THE  DRESS  PARADE. 

In  the  afternoon  at  4.30  the  several  military  organizations 
united  in  a  dress  parade  on  the  Common.  The  parade  was 
witnessed  by  fully  ten  thousand  people.  When  the  com- 
mands began  to  arrive  the  crowd  was  so  great  that  the  St. 
John's  Cadets  had  to  clear  a  space,  and  the  police  set  ropes, 
but  they  were  soon  broken  down.  After  a  hard  struggle  a 
sufficient  space  was  cleared,  and  the  Governor's  Foot  Guard 
of  Hartford,  Company  F,  Second  Regiment,  of  Gardner,  the 
Light  Infantry,  and  the  City  Guards  marched  on  to  the 
grounds.  Major  E.  R.  Shumway  was  in  command  of  the 
parade,  and  Lieut.  James  Early  acting  Adjutant.  The  line 
was  quickly  formed  with  the  Infantry  upon  the  right,  and  the 
St.  John's  Cadets  upon  the  left.  The  Worcester  Brass  Band 
and  Colt's  Band  of  Hartford  consolidated  and  played  finely 
as  they  marched  down  the  line  and  back.  The  men  stood 
steady,  and  in  the  manual  were  excellent,  the  Cadets  coming 
in  for  much  praise.  The  parade  was  witnessed  by  Gen. 
Josiah  Pickett,  Chief  Marshal  of  the  day,  and  his  Staff,  the 
officers  of  the  Continentals  accorhpanied  by  their  guests,  the 
Staff  of  the  Foot  Guard,  and  the  officers  of  the  Ancient  and 
Honorable  Artiller}^  besides  many  other  military  men.  It 
was  a  most  fitting  close  to  the  military  exercises  of  the  day, 
and  the  applause  was  long  and  loud,  as  the  parade  was 
dismissed. 

One  feature  of  the  day,  and  to  most  of  our  citizens  an 
unexpected  pleasure,  was  the  presence  of  the  Governor's 
Foot  Guard,    of   Hartford,  Conn.,  who,  with  the  V/orcester 


THE  PROCESSION.  109 

Continentals,  formed  the  escort  of  the  Chief  Marshal.  The 
Foot  Guard  was  organized  in  1771,  and  their  uniform  is 
like  that  of  the  British  Grenadier  of  that  period,  scarlet 
coats,  turned  up  with  black,  silver  trimmings,  buff  cassimere 
waistcoat  and  breeches,  and  bearskin  hats ;  this  formed  a 
pleasing  contrast  with  the  blue  and  buff  uniform  of  the 
Continentals. 


THE  FIREWORKS. 

Last  on  the  programme  of  the  celebration  of  the  day  was 
the  exhibition  of  fireworks,  which  took  place  in  the  evening 
on  Newton  Hill,  opposite  Elm  Park. 

Toward  6  o'clock  the  people  began  to  arrive  in  multitudes, 
and  the  space  reserved  for  people  on  foot  was  roped  off  by 
the  police.  It  was  all  that  part  of  the  Boulevard  between 
Pleasant  Street  and  the  centre  of  Elm  Park.  The  crowd 
soon  became  impassable,  and  the  side  streets  were  rapidly 
filled  up.  The  Park  was  very  handsomely  illuminated  by 
numerous  lanterns,  and  at  the  top  of  the  flagstaff  was  an 
immense  star.  Nearly  every  residence  upon  Elm  Street,  and 
many  upon  the  adjacent  streets,  were  elegantly  illuminated, 
and  colored  fires  were  burned  at  intervals.  The  Worcester 
Brass  Band  and  the  Cadet  Band  were  placed  at  the  disposal 
of  the  Committee,  and  they  were  posted  at  the  Park  and  on 
the  Boulevard,  each  giving  fine  concerts.  The  members  of 
the  Worcester  Brass  Brass  were  kindly  entertained  by  the 
people  living  near  where  they  were  stationed.  By  seven 
o'clock,  the  time  for  the  starting  of  the  display,  it  was  estimated 
that  there  were  over  thirty  thousand  people  in  the  vicinity, 
and  thousands  viewed  the  sight  from  the  surrounding  hills  and 
from  the  residences  on  the  west  side.  At  the  corner  of  Elm 
and  Agricultural  Streets  the  Committee  in  charge  had  built 
a  platform  for  their  guests,  the  members  of  the  City  Govern- 
ment, the  General  Committee,  and  the  press  ;  and  these,  with 
their   families,    completely   filled    the    250   seats.      At   seven 


110  BI-CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

o'clock  several  lire  balloons  were  sent  up,  some  of  them 
discharging  Roman  candles,  and  a  minute  later  the  general 
display  began,  and  lasted  for  two  hours,  and  it  was  the  finest 
pyrotechnic  display  ever  seen  in  this  vicinity.  All  the  pieces 
were  perfect  and  went  oft'  on  time.  The  display  began  by 
the  discharge  of  a  large  bomb,  followed  by  an  illumination, 
displaying  a  succession  of  colored  lights  suspended  in  the  air. 
There  were  59  pieces  in  all,  and  although  the  air  was  very 
cold  the  crowd  remained  until  the  final  discharge  of  400 
rockets  in  a  bouquet,  and  "Good  Night"  appeared  in  large 
letters.  The  set  pieces  were  very  elaborate.  The  crowd 
were  enthusiastic  at  the  close,  and  cheered  loudly.  After  the 
display  a  vote  of  thanks  was  passed  to  Mr.  Tilton,  the  pyro- 
technist, for  the  prompt  and  efficient  manner  in  which  he 
carried  out  his  part  of  the  contract. 

GENERAL  NOTES. 

The  managers  of  the  several  railroads  entering  the  city 
prepared  themselves  to  furnish  extraordinary  accommodations 
to  the  crowd  of  visitors.  Their  arrangements  provided  for 
excursion  tickets  at  reduced  rates  on  all  the  roads,  and  the 
running  of  special  trains. 

The  only  survivors  of  the  first  City  Government  of  Worces- 
ter, 1848,  all  among  the  honored  guests  of  the  city,  were 
Aldermen  James  S.  Woodworth,  and  Councilmen  Daniel 
Goddard  (since  deceased),  William  T.  Merrifield  and  Calvin 
Foster. 

In  concluding  the  notes  of  the  second  and  closing  day  of 
the  celebration,  it  deserves  repetition  that  the  arrangements 
from  beginning  to  end  were  not  only  perfect,  but  were  carried 
through  without  friction  and  without  the  slightest  delay,  the 
great  procession  moving  promptly  on  time,  the  balloon  being 
released  one  minute  after  the  time  announced,  and  the 
pyrotechnic  display  beginning  while  the  clocks  were  striking 
the  hour  named. 


THE  PROCESSION.  HI 

The  literature  of  the  Bi-Centennial  received  a  notable  and 
worthy  addition  in  a  sixteen-page  antique  paper  issued  from 
the  press  of  F.  S.  Blanchard  &  Co.,  and  called  "Worcester 
Bi-Centennial."  It  gave  a  brief  but  well-written  sketch  of 
the  history  of  the  beginning  of  the  Pakachoag  settlement 
and  the  leading  events  of  the  history  of  the  city,  its  most 
notable  feature  being  the  illustrations,  which  included  a  fac- 
simile of  the  original  order  of  the  General  Court  giving  the 
new  town  the  name  of  Worcester,  a  fac-simile  of  a  poster 
soliciting  recruits  to  the  Continental  Army,  a  b*ird's-eye  view 
of  the  city  in  1844,  views  of  the  Old  South  Meeting-house, 
Town  Hall  in  1841,  the  old  U.  S.  Hotel,  the  Lunatic  Asylum 
in  1831,  excellent  portraits  of  Gov.  Levi  Lincoln,  Mayor 
Reed  and  Ichabod  Washburn,  a  view  of  Main  Street  in  1836, 
the  original  Wire  Mill  in  1834,  the  Rev.  Isaac  Burr  house, 
built  1724,  and  a  number  of  other  buildings  of  note  of  the 
past  and  present.  The  paper  has  a  well-executed  heading  of 
most  appropriate  design,  and  gave  a  fac-simile  page  of  Isaiah 
Thomas's  Massachusetts  Spy  of  July,  1776.  It  is  printed 
on  old  style  type  and  antique  paper,  the  general  effect  thus 
produced  being  quite  ancient. 


HISTORICAL   NOTES. 


It  has  been  thought  proper  to  present  a  few  pages  of  history 
bearing  directly  upon  that  period  in  the  early  settlement  of  Worcester 
which  is  so  immediately  associated  with  the  event  we  have  just 
celebrated.  It  is  taken  from  a  contribution  to  local  history,  prepared 
for  and  read  before  the  Worcester  Society  of  Antiquity,  December 
16th,  1884. 

The  first  book  of  ' '  Eecords  of  the  Proprietors  "  seems  to  be  the 
most  natural  source  from  whence  to  draw  the  history  of  the  early 
settlement  of  Worcester.  That  record,  however,  proves  to  be 
defective  and  quite  incomplete,  yet  there  are  in  fair  state  of  preserva- 
tion twenty-eight  closely  written  pages,  covering  the  period  of  the 
early  attempts  in  establishing  a  Plantation  near  Quinsigamond  Ponds, 
beginning  with  the  entry  of  May  15th,  1667,  at  which  time  the 
General  Court  appointed  Capt.  Daniel  Gookin,i  Capt.  Edward  John- 
son, Samuel  Andrew  and  Andrew  Belcher,  Senior,  a  committee  ^  to 
view  the  premises  and  see  if  it  would  be  a  suitable  place  to  establish 
a  village.  From  this  first  entry  down  to  November  26th,  1686,  the 
record  appears  to  be  in  the  hand-writing  of  Major-General  Gookin, 
at  whose  house  at  Cambridge  the  early  meetings  of  the  committee 
for  settling  the  town  may  have  been  held.  It  seems  strange  that  the 
book  bears  no  entries  in  the  handwriting  of  either  Capt.  Daniel 
Henchman  or  Capt.  John  Wing,  the  former  having  full  management 
of  the  settlement  from  1683  until  his  death,  October  15,  1685,  and 
the  latter,  who  soon  after,  perhaps  not  until  after  the  death  of 
Major-General  Gookin,  which  occurred  March  19,  1687,  was  chosen 
Town  Clerk,  and  continued  to  conduct  the  affairs  of  the  village  until 
his  death,  February  22,  1703.  The  record  also  appears  to  have 
been  compiled  from  detached  documents  collected  during  the  years 
1685  and  1686. 

It  is  not  intended  to  give  here  a  complete  account  of  the  early 


1  Afterwards  appointed  a  Major-General, 

"  This  was  the  second   committee  appointed.     The  first  one  for  several  reasons 
failed  to  act. 

9 


114  BI-CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

settlements  of  "Worcester.  To  many  readers  the  printed  record  is 
quite  familiar,  so  that  we  shall  touch  lightly,  and  in  a  general  way, 
the  history  as  a  whole,  while  attempting  at  the  same  time  to  bring 
out  matters  of  special  interest  that  hithei'to  have  been  quite  obscure 
or  wholly  unknown  to  the  general  reader. 

Six  years  and  more  had  been  spent  by  the  several  committees 
appointed  by  the  General  Court  in  the  preliminary  preparation  for 
the  establishment  of  a  Plantation  near  Quinsigamond.  The  year 
1673  found  lots  granted  to  32  persons  and  recorded  in  the  Town 
Book.  Thus  far  the  meetings  of  the  committee  to  settle  the  planta- 
tion had  been  held  at  Cambridge,  and  the  town  in  prospect  was  as 
yet  only  on  paper;  out  of  the  32  persons  before  mentioned  only  14 
perfected  their  titles  by  paying  to  the  committee  their  share  of  the 
expense  thus  far  incurred  in  settling  the  town,  which  also  included 
the  Indian  purchase  money.  At  this  time  the  principal  portion  of 
the  lots  were  located  side  by  side  north  of  and  fronting  on  the 
Connecticut  road,  extending  from  the  head  of  Lake  Quinsigamond 
westerly,  to  what  is  now  Adams  Square  or  nearly  to  Mill  Brook. 

The  names  of  the  32  persons  who  2^^'oposed  to  settle  in  1673  were : 
Daniel  Gookin,  Senior,  Dr.  Lkonard  Hoarr,  Joshua  Bigelow, 
Samuel,  his  son,  John  Fat,  Michael  Fleg, 

Daniel  Henchman,  John  Shaw,  Thomas  Prentice, 

Ephraim  Curtis,  Joseph  Waight,        Benjamin  Web, 

John  Curtis,  John  Provender,      Phinehas  Upham, 

Thomas  Brown,  Samuel  Brigham,      Philip  Atwood, 

Thomas  Hall,  Gershom  Eams,         Trial  Newberry, 

Benjamin  Crane,  Thomas  Grover,       Wm.  Taylor, 

Symon  Meylin,  John  Paul,  Jonathan  Treada way, 

Richard  Dana,  Joel  Jenkins,  Wm.  Adams. 

Jacob  Dana,  Joseph  Beamis, 

From  the  Town  Book  we  learn  that  of  the  above 
Daniel  Gookin,  Symon  Meylin,  Philip  Atwood, 

Samuel  Gookin,  Thomas  Brown,        Joseph  Waight, 

Daniel  Henchman,  Thomas  Grover,       John  Provender, 

Thomas  Hall,  Thomas  Prentice,     Peter   Goulding. 

Ephraim  Curtis,  Phinehas  Upham, 

The  last  named  (Peter  Goulding)  having  purchased  the  claim  of 
Benj.  Crane,  making  fourteen  who  became  actual  proprietors  or 
landowners  in  the  town.  How  many  of  these  persons  erected  dwell- 
ings upon  their  lots  is  not  at  this  time  of  writing  an  easy  matter  to 


This  drawing  is  designed  to  illustrate  the  relative  positions  of  home-lots.  The  number  on  the 
map  corresponding  with  the  one  set  against  the  name  below  will  indicate  the  location  occupied 
by  that  person. 


1 

Gershom  Earns. 

16 

Maj.-Gen.  Daniel  Gookin 

2 

Samuel  Brighara. 

17-24 

Thomas  Hall. 

3 

John  Provender. 

18 

Thomas  Grover. 

4 

Joseph  Waight. 

19 

John  Paul. 

5 

John  Shaw. 

20 

Joel  Jenkins. 

6 

John  Fay. 

21 

Joseph  Beamis. 

7 

ejohn  Curtis. 

22 

Joshua  Bigelow. 

s 

Dr.  Leonard  Hoarr. 

23 

Michael  Fleg. 

9 

Capt.  Daniel  Henchman. 

25 

Benjamin  Craue. 

10 

Ephraim  Curtis. 

26 

Capt.  Thomas  Prentice. 

11 

Thomas  Brown. 

27 

Benjamin  Web. 

12 

Jacob  Dana. 

28 

Phinehas  Upham. 

13 

Richard  Dana. 

29 

Philip  Atwood. 

14 

Symou  Meylin. 

30 

Trial  Newberry. 

15 

Samuel  Gookin. 

31 

Minister's  lot. 

■""VLAN  or 

\AJORCESTER 
I673TOI67S: 


Drawn  by  E.  B.  Crane. 


HISTOKICAL  NOTES.  115 

decide ;  we  are  confident,  however,  that  houses  were  built  by  the 
committee,  Ephraim  Curtis  and  Thomas  Brown.  As  it  appears  that 
the  owner  of  a  lot  could  have  three  years  after  the  grant  and  confirma- 
tion of  his  title,  and  acceptance  of  lot  and  payment  of  charges,  in 
which  to  make  improvements,  and  as  July  8th,  1673,  seems  to  be  the 
earliest  date  of  surveying  and  locating  the  lots,  it  is  very  doubtful 
if  any  other  buildings  were  completed  previous  to  the  war  with 
King  Philip. 

The  Committee  for  settling  the  New  Plantation  received  their 
appointment  by  the  General  Court,  October  24,  1668,  and  was 
composed  of  Capt.  Daniel  Gookin,  Capt.  Thomas  Prentice,  Mr. 
Daniel  Henchman  and  Lieut.  Richard  Beeres.  That  the  work  was 
placed  in  the  hands  of  an  able  and  efficient  committee,  all  who  are 
familiar  with  the  early  records  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay  Colony  will 
admit.  This  committee,  under  the  leadership  of  Capt.  Daniel 
Gookin,  had  taken  possession  of  this  tract  of  land  for  the  building 
of  a  town  and  constructed  a  house  "little  beyond  the  Brook," 
previous  to  October  8,  1673.  This  with  the  houses  of  Ephraim 
Curtis  and  Thomas  Brown  completed  the  year  following,  located  on 
the  north  side  of  the  country  road  between  the  head  of  Lake  Quinsiga- 
mond  and  what  is  now  Adams  Square,  comprise  all  the  houses  of 
which  we  have  record  as  standing  previous  to  the  outbreak  among 
the  Indians  in  the  summer  of  1675,  when  the  place  was  abiiudoned. 
And  in  December  of  that  year  the  buildings  were  destroyed  by  the 
Indians.  The  death  of  King  Philip  in  August,  1676,  brought  a 
cessation  of  hostilities  with  the  Indians,  and  the  committee  again 
put  forth  their  endeavors  to  re-settle  the  town,  but  with  little  success. 

In  October,  1682,  the  General  Court  gave  notice  that  unless  some 
decided  advance  was  soon  made  the  place  would  be  forfeited.  Captain, 
now  Major-General,  Daniel  Gookin  was  too  important  a  personage 
to  be  spared  from  the  seat  of  government,  and  it  was  arranged  that 
Mr.  Henchman,  now  Capt.  Daniel  Henchman,  should  undertake  the 
personal  superintendence  of  the  settlement.  A  re-survey  of  the  town- 
ship was  mlade  by  Samuel  Andrew  in  1683  and  a  few  log  houses 
erected;  and  April  1st,  1684,  Capt.  Henchman  was  requested  by 
the  General  Court  to  see  that  the  inhabitants  at  the  Plantation  of 
Quinsigamond  do  not  neglect  the  proper  observance  of  the  Sabbath, 
until  they  may  be  able  to  call  and  maintain  a  learned,  pious,  and 
orthodox  minister. 

It  will  be  noticed  on  examination  that  not  more  than  five  persons, 


116  BI-CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

including  two  members  of  tlie  committee,  appear  as  settlers  of  the 
town  in  1683  and  1684  that  were  proprietoi's  in  1673  and  1674,  also 
that  the  locations  selected  are  quite  different  from  those  made  at 
the  first  settlement  and  being  far  more  widely  scattered,  but  the  plan 
advanced  by  Capt.  Henchman  provided  for  such  a  thinly-scattered 
population,  inasmuch  as  every  settler  was  expected  to  have  a  hut-lot 
six  rods  square  within  the  citadel,  on  which  he  was  to  erect  a  small 
house,  into  which  in  case  of  an  attack  by  the  Indians  each  settler  could 
retire  for  safety  and  defence.  This  citadel  was  a  plat  of  ground 
about  one-half  mile  square  located  on  Mill  Brook,  the  north  line 
being  the  top  of  Prospect  Hill,  what  is  now  Messinger  Hill,  extend- 
ing south  nearly  to  Lincoln  Square.  There  was  a  road  six  rods  wide 
located  about  the  citadel,  as  well  as  streets  two  and  in  some  instances 
three  rods  wide,  passing  through  between  the  lots.  Those  who 
should  erect  a  block-house  or  place  of  defence  "  on  a  hill  near  unto  the 
citadel "  were  to  be  "allowed  towards  the  work"  by  the  committee,  and 
also  to  retain  his  lot  in  the  citadel.  Those  who  should  prefer  to 
build  on  their  farm-lots  might  do  so,  by  placing  their  houses,  two 
or  more  of  them,  within  musket-shot  of  each  other.  That  there  was 
a  block-house  near  the  summit  of  Messinger  Hill  is  quite  probable, 
it  being  the  most  natural  location  within  the  limits  of  the  citadel  for 
such  a  building,  and  from  which  a  watch  over  the  little  collection  of 
toiling  villagers  might  be  kept.  The  outlook  from  this  hill  no  doubt 
suggested  the  name.  Prospect  Hill.  As  it  is  rather  difficult  to 
separate  with  certainty  the  names  of  the  proprietors  from  the  persons 
who  were  living  here  in  1684  and  1685.  I  will  name  the  full  list  so 
far  as  able  : 

Daniel   Henchman    and    two  Digory  Serjent,i 

servants. — Will,  a  colored  Geo.  Rosbury,^ 

man,  and  Christopher  Read,  Wm.  Weeks, 

Daniel  Gookiu,  Isaac  George, 

Thos.  Prentice,  Thos.  Allerton,^ 

John  Wing,  James  Butler, 

Nathaniel  Henchman,  Thomas  Hall, 

Ephraim  Curtis,  Alexander  Bogell, 

Geo.  Danson,  Chas.  Williams, 

Isaac  Tomlin,  Matthew  Tomlin, 

Geo.  Ripley,  Adam  Winthrop, 

iThe  origin  of  tliis  name  is  Serjeant,  and  it  has   been  variously  corrupted  into 
Serjent,  Sergeant.  Sergent,  Sarjeut,  Sarjant,  Sarjeaunt,  Sargent,  Sargant,  Sargeant. 

2  This  name  is  also  found  spelled  Rosbrough  and  Rosebrougb. 

3  Afterwards  spelled  Atherton. 


This  drawing  is  designed  to  illustrate  the  relative  positions  of  home-lots.  The  number  on  the 
map  corresponding  with  the  one  set  against  the  name  below  will  indicate  the  location  occupied 
by  that  person. 


Ephraim  Curtis. 
Thomas  Brown. 
Daniel  Turell. 
Samuel  Daniel. 
John  Wing. 
George  Danson. 
Samuel  Simpson. 
Adam  Winthrop. 
Mr.  Peirpoint. 
Hezekiah  Usher. 


11  Bridget  Usher.  21 

12  Ephraim  Curtis  heirs.    22 

13  Daniel  Henchman.  23 

14  Daniel  Gookiu.  24 

15  Digory  Serjent.  25 

16  Charles  Williams.  26 

17  George  Ripley.  27 
IS  William  Paine.  28 

19  James  Holmes.  30 

20  Alexander  Bogell. 


Thomas  Hall. 
Peter  Goulding. 
James  Butler. 
Thomas  Allerton. 
Isaac  George. 
William  Weeks. 
Isaac  Bull. 
George  Rosbury. 
John  Wing's  Mills. 


Drairn  by  E,  B.  Crane. 


1683  TO  /68S: 


HISTORICAL  NOTES.  117 

Peter  Goulding,  Samuel  Daniel, 

Hezekiah  Usher,  Geo.  Pyke, 

Mrs.  Bridget  Usher,  Caleb  Sawyer, 

Thomas  Brown,  John  Turner, 

Isaac  Bull,  James  Ford, 

James  Holmes,  Benjamin  Eaton, 

"Wm.  Paine,  Thomas    Crosby    and    four 

Daniel  Turell,  soldiers  who  served  under 

him  as  a  guard  for  the  town.  There  seems  to  be  little  doubt 
but  that  twenty-eight  of  the  above  thirty-six  named  persons,  not 
including  the  five  soldiers,  were  residents  of  the  town  at  the  time 
indicated  either  as  laud  owners  or  employed  by  them.  Six  of  the 
proprietors  named,  who  apparently  did  not  reside  here,  were  Daniel 
Gookin,  Thos.  Prentice,  Geo.  Dauson,  Hezekiah  Usher,  Adam 
Winthrop  and  Bridget  Usher,  although  they  may  have  been  repre- 
sented by  agents. 

The  death  of  Lieut.  Beeres  in  1675,  had  caused  a  vacancy  in  the 
committee,  and  on  petition  from  the  remaining  members  to  the 
General  Court,  October  15,  1684,  the  place  was  filled  by  the  choice 
of  Mr.  Adam  Winthrop,  and  October  21st,  six  days  later,  the  com- 
mittee was  enlarged  by  the  addition  of  Capt.  John  Wing. 

In  the  spring  of  1684  the  little  hamlet  had  grown  to  a  size  suflScient 
to  require  not  only  some  form  of  religious  service  to  be  held,  but 
there  was  need  of  an  inn  for  the  accommodation  of  travelers  ;  conse- 
quently Nathaniel  Henchman,  a  son  of  the  captain,  was  licensed  by 
the  General  Court  to  "keep  such  a  house  and  to  sell  and  furnish 
travelers  as  well  as  the  inhabitants  with  rum  or  other  strong  waters 
in  pint  or  quart  bottles  but  not  to  retail  or  allow  tipling  in  his 
house."  Thomas  Brown  had  been  granted  a  similar  license  on 
December  loth,  1674,  at  the  previous  or  first  settlement,  and  the 
license  to  Mr.  Henchman  was  the  first  granted  since  the  second 
settlement.  After  the  death  of  Capt.  Daniel  Henchman  it  is  quite 
probable  that  Capt.  John  Wing  kept  an  inn  here,  as  he  was  then  the 
leading  man  of  the  town  and  having  the  sympathy  and  confidence  of 
the  larger  portion  of  the  inhabitants.  The  house  must  have  been 
standing  in  1716,  it  doubtless  having  been  put  in  repair,  for  Judge 
Samuel  Sewall  records  having  dined  at  Wing's  old  house  in  AVorcester 
that  year,  on  his  way  to  Springfield.  The  house  was  certainly 
standing  in  1702,  for  Capt.  Wing's  will  mentions  his  Frame  House  ^ 


1  This  was  pi-obably  the  house  where  Capt.  Thos.  Howe  and  his  soldiers  stopped 
the  night  before  they  found  Digory  Serjent  lying  dead  on  the  floor  of  his  house. 


118  BI-CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION, 

and  400  acres  of  land  in  "Worcester,  which  was  subsequently  deeded 
by  his  son  Cord  to  Messrs.  Palmer,  Oulton  and  others. 

In  June,  1684,  it  was  found  necessary  to  have  some  of  the  minor 
town  officers  appointed,  and  the  General  Court  on  the  17th  of  that 
mouth,  on  motion  of  the  committee,  "ordered  that  Wm.  Weeks  be 
constable  for  the  plantation  for  the  year  next  insuiug  and  that 
Thomas  Allerton  is  appointed  to  inspect  the  fences  and  order  about 
the  swine."  Thus  matters  stood  until  after  the  death  of  Capt.  Hench- 
man, which  occurred  October  15,  1685  (just  one  year  after  the  naming 
of  the  town).  Soon  afterward  Capt.  John  Wing  was  chosen  Clerk, 
the  date  on  which  the  choice  was  made  does  not  appear,  but  in 
Middlesex  Deeds,  vol.  13,  page  294,  can  be  found  a  record  of  George 
Ripley's  estate  in  Worcester  "where  he  hath  built  a  house  and  barn," 
and  John  Wing  there  certifies  under  date  of  May  21,  1688,  that  it  is 
"a  true  copy  out  of  the  first  book  of  records  kept  for  the  Town  of 
Worcester  by  himself  as  Clerk  chosen  by  the  Inhabitants  there." 
This  would  indicate  that  some  kind  of  a  town  meeting  had  been  held 
here  previous  to  the  year  1722. 

The  controversy  between  Capt.  Wing  and  George  Danson  should 
not  be  passed  without  special  notice,  for  next  to  the  contest  with  the 
Indians,  that  gave  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  the  most  trouble.  It 
was  the  means  of  dividing  them  into  two  factions,  the  majority,  how- 
ever, being  in  sympathy  with  Capt.  Wing.  Those  who  have  read 
the  first  book  of  records  are  already  aware  that  Capt.  Wing  had 
arranged  with  the  corhmittee,  of  which  Capt.  Henchman  was  the 
manager,  to  erect  and  maintain  the  mills,  for  which  he  was  to  have 
a  certain  amount  of  land  and  the  exclusive  right  to  all  the  waters  of 
Mill  Brook.  It  also  appears  that  north  of  the  land  which  had  been 
assigned  to  Wing  there  was  another  tract  lying  between  his  north 
line  and  what  is  now  called  North  Pond  and  bounded  on  the  east  by 
Mill  Brook,  which  Wing  hoped  to  get  through  subsequent  distribu- 
tions or  otherwise.  But  Mr.  George  Danson,  then  of  Boston,  a 
Quaker  and  a  bread-maker,  a  man  of  means,  wishing  to  try  his  hand 
at  speculation,  was  shown  this  piece  of  land  by  Mr.  Samuel  Daniel; 
Danson  was  pleased  with  the  location  and  applied  to  Capt.  Hench- 
man for  a  title  ;  as  this  land  had  not  really  been  assigned  to  any  one 
it  was  perhaps  proper,  that  the  Captain  should  grant  it  to  Mr. 
Danson  ;  but  no  sooner  did  Mr.  David  Fiske,  the  town  surveyor, 
begin  to  run  out  the  bounds  of  that  lot,  than  Geo.  Fyke,  Thos.  Hall, 
Caleb  Sawyer,  Charles  Williams,  John  Turner  with  Capt.  Wing 
broke  his  chain,  cut  out  the  marks,  and   for  a  time  prevented  the 


HISTORICAL  NOTES.  119 

lines  from  being  run  ;  their  proceedings  so  annoyed  Mr.  Dauson  that 
he  brouglit  suits  in  the  Middlesex  County  Court  against  the  above 
named  parties  for  an  assault  on  the  2d  day  of  October,  1685,  when 
laying  out  a  parcel  or  parcels  of  laud  at  the  Town  of  Worcester,  and 
defaming  the  plaintiff's  title.  The  Court  ruled  that  Danson  could 
prosecute  only  on  one  of  the  two  counts.  He  chose  the  latter.  The 
case  of  Danson  vs.  "Wing  was  tried  first,  and  resulted  in  a  verdict  for 
"Wing  with  costs.  The  plaintiff'  was  no  more  successful  in  his  trial 
against  the  other  parties.  This  gave  "Wing  encouragement  to  further 
resist  the  movements  of  Danson,  which  he  and  two  of  his  friends  did 
on  the  20th  of  July,  1686,  by  again  breaking  the  surveyor's  chain 
and  otherwise  preventing  the  prosecution  of  their  work.  An  end  to 
the  difficulty  was  reached  through  the  action  of  a  committee  appointed 
by  the  President  and  Council  to  regulate  the  affairs  of  the  settlement 
and  confirm  titles  to  lands  in  "Worcester.  That  committee  was 
appointed  on  the  application  of  John  Wing  and  other  proprietors  of 
the  Town,  June  11th,  1686,  and  consisted  of  Major  Daniel  Gookin, 
Capt.  Thomas  Prentice,  Wm.  Bond,  Capt.  Joseph  Lynd  and  Deacon 
John  Haynes.  "Any  three  of  them  were  empowered  to  act  provided 
Major  Gookin  was  one  of  the  three."  They  were  instructed  to  order 
and  regulate  all  matters  relating  to  the  settlement  of  Worcester,  hav- 
ing always  respect  to  the  confirmation  of  those  lands  that  were 
granted,  or  in  part  or  all  laid  out  by  Capt.  Daniel  Henchman. 

Soon  Mr.  Danson's  rig^t  was  established,  not,  however,  without 
certain  restrictions  debarring  him  from  erecting  corn  or  saw-mills,  or 
in  any  way  interfering  with  the  privileges  Capt.  Wing  might  have  on 
the  stream. 

The  record  of  this  litigation,  given  by  Francis  E.  Blake,  Esq., 
throws  much  valuable  light  upon  the  affairs  of  the  Town  at  that 
period,  aud  furnishes  names  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  place  not  previ- 
ously to  be  found  in  our  printed  records. ^ 

It  also  shows  that  the  popular  feeling  of  sympathy  was  for  Captain 
Wing,  and  that  the  action  of  Capt.  Henchman  in  this  case  was  not 
approved  either  by  the  majority  of  the  inhabitants  or  by  other  mem- 
bers of  the  committee. 

It  seems  a  pity  that  almost  the  last  public  act  in  this  man's  life 
should  be  the  means  of  crushing  out  the  esteem  and  respect  that  his 


1  See  paper  entitled  Incidents  of  the  First  and  Second  Settlements  of  Worcester, 
read  before  the  Worcester  Society  of  Antiquity,  May  6th,  1884,  and  printed  in 
Proceediniis  for  that  vear. 


120  BI-CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

fellow-townsmen  had  formerly  entertained  for  him,  so  that  none  but 
members  of  his  immediate  family,  with  one  or  two  friends,  were 
sufficiently  interested  to  stand  at  the  grave  and  witness  the  last  sad 
service  man  can  render  his  fellows. ^ 

After  Captain  Wing  assumed  the  clerkship  of  the  Town,  all  for  a 
time  went  well,  but  the  constant  anxiety  and  fear  from  possible 
trouble  with  the  Indians  kept  the  inhabitants  so  closely  confined  to 
their  fortifications  and  on  the  watch  for  the  foe  that  they  were  scarcely 
able  to  cultivate  crops  sufficient  to  supply  their  immediate  wants,  and 
about  the  year  1687  Capt.  Wing  petitioned  Gov.  Edmond  Audros  to 
remit  the  rates  of  the  Town  for  three  or  four  years  for  the  encourage- 
ment of  the  young  Plantation.  We  find  no  record  to  show  that  any 
action  was  taken  on  this  petition.  A  few  years  later,  apparently 
for  the  purpose  of  infusing  renewed  confidence  among  the  settlers  of 
the  town,  Capt.  Wing  again  petitioned  his  honor  the  Governor  and 
Council;  in  reply  to  which  we  find  the  following:  "Oct.  25,  1691. 
In  answer  to  Capt.  Juo.  Wing  his  pet"  ordered  that  Capt.  Penn 
Townsend,  Capt.  Ephraim  Hunt,  and  deacon  Johu  Haynes  be  aded 
to  Capt.  John  prentice,  Mr.  Adam  Winthrop  &  Capt.  Jno.  Wing 
who  were  appointed  to  be  a  comitee  for  the  ordering  and  setling  of 
the  plantation  called  Worcester.  Any  four  of  them  being  fully 
empowered  to  act  in  that  afi:'air  according  to  former  order  of  this 
Court."  2  Previous  to  Capt.  Henchman's  death,  it  appears  he  had 
ordered  Thomas  Crosby,  with  four  soldiers,  from  Chelmsford  to 
Worcester,  to  strengthen  the  garrison.  And  now  another  dissension 
was  to  appear ;  Capt.  Wing  had  secured  an  order  from  his  Excellency 
the  Governor,  placing  the  command  of  the  Town  in  the  hands  of 
one  Edward  Downing,  who  reported,  August  1,  1692,  that  a  portion 
of  the  inhabitants  were  building  a  new  garrison.  That  he  had 
ordered  them  into  Capt.  Wing's  garrison  but  that  they  had  refused 
to  come,  and  that  he  could  not  be  responsible  for  their  safety,  not 
having  men  sufficient  to  guard  both  locations.  At  the  same  time 
another  petition  addressed  to  the  Governor,  signed  by  Thomas 
Allerton  and  five  other  persons,  residing  in  the  southeasterly  portion 
of  the  Town,  was  carried  to  Boston  by  Thomas  Crosby,  praying  that 
they  might  be  allowed  to  complete  their  garrison.  Wing's  being  two 
miles  distant  from  their  homes  and  fields,  which  they  should  have  to 
neglect  were  they  compelled  to  go  there. 


1  See  Samuel  Sewall's  diary. 

2  Minutes  of  Council,  Vol.  86,  Mass.  Archives. 


HISTORICAL  NOTES.  121 

Notwithstanding  the  danger  to  which  the  planters  were  subjected, 
and  the  anxiety  felt  by  the  inhabitants  for  their  personal  safety,  still 
the  settlement  thrived  as  new  settlers  came  in,  the  list  having  been 
enlarged  by  the  names  of  Benjamin  Hinton,  Richard  Hilton,  Thomas 
Baker,  John  Fay,  and  Samuel  Lawson^  the  constable^  chosen  probably 
to  succeed  Wm.  "Weeks,  who  made  a  sale  (recorded  Nov.  26,  1686) 
of  his  house,  with  40  acres  of  land,  to  Isaac  Bull,  about  which  time 
Weeks  may  have  left  the  Town.  The  widow  of  Capt.  Henchman, 
with  her  family,  had  already  returned  to  Boston,  James  Butler  had 
died,  Daniel  Turrell  had  sold  his  12  lots  to  Capt.  John  Wing,  and 
possibly  Jacob  Leonard,  with  his  family,  had  arrived  in  town,  but  of 
that  there  is  no  certainty  ;  the  proprietors'  records  do  not  show  that 
he  owned  land  here  previous  to  1714.  But  they  do  indicate  that 
Samuel  Leonard,  a  brother  of  Jacob,  owned  a  lot  of  40  acres  here 
previous  to  the  settlement  of  1713,  and  there  seems  to  be  good  reason 
for  stating  that  he  was  a  settler  here  with  his  family,  and  that  his  son 
Samuel,  in  1696,  then  a  lad,  was  captured  from  here  by  the  Indians, 
and  was  the  same  who,  with  Mrs.  Thomas  Dustin  and  Mrs.  Nelf ,  of 
Haverhill,  escaped  March  31,  1697,  after  having  surprised  and  killed 
ten  of  their  captors. 

Further  real  estate  transactions  took  place  amoug  the  inhabitants, 
one  of  which  is  worthy  of  meutiou,  as  it  shows,  perhaps,  a  connecting 
link  with  the  settlement  of  1713.  In  1701,  John  Wing  sold  to  Thos. 
Allerton  30  acres  of  laud,  bounded  east  by  said  Wing,  west  by  Geo. 
Ripley,  south  by  Isaac  Bull  and  Thos.  Allerton,  north  by  estate  of 
James  Butler.  This  lot  of  30  acres  was  a  part  of  the  60  acres  sold 
by  John  Atherton  (son  of  Thos.  Allerton),  to  Jonas  Rice,  of  Sud- 
.  bury,  Dec.  4th,  1711  ;  the  other  30-acre  lot  was  the  home-lot  of  Thos. 
Allerton.  On  this  sixty-acre  lot  Jonas  Rice  probably  made  his  first 
home  in  Worcester. 

Owing,  perhaps,  to  the  lack  of  encouragement  from  the  Governor 
and  Council  to  provide  better  protection  to  the  planters,  some  of  those 
residing  the  most  distant  from  Capt.  Wing's  garrison  left  the  place, 
Thomas  Allerton  aud  Geo.  Rosbury  going  to  Norwich,  Conn.,  the 
latter  about  the  year  1693,  and  the  former  about  1702.  In  1695 
Alexander  Bogell  aud  James  Ford  went  to  Mendon,  whither  Geo. 
Pyke  followed  about  1699. 

It  was  extremely  unfortunate  that  all  matters  relating  to  the  inter- 
ests of  the  Town  could  not  have  been  conducted  harmoniously,  for 
no  doubt  the  trouble  between  Wing  and  Danson,  involving  Capt. 
Henchman,  had  the  effect  of  retarding  the  growth  aud  prosperity  of 


122  BI-CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

the  place  ;  and  again,  when  the  division  arose  regarding  the  two  gai*- 
risons,  that  also  may  have  had  its  influence  on  the  general  result,  by 
diminishing  the  confidence  of  the  Governor  and  Council  in  the  unity 
and  stability  of  the  settlement.  But  if  the  inhabitants  ever  had  rea- 
son to  expect  assistance  from  government  in  the  way  of  supplying 
soldiers  for  the  protection  of  their  homes  from  the  relentless  Indians, 
their  hopes  and  expectations  were  dispelled  by  an  act  of  the  General 
Court,  March  20th,  1699,  whereby  Worcester  was  dropped  from  the 
list  of  Frontier  Towns,  therefore  little  or  no  help  for  the  Plantation 
might  be  looked  for  from  that  source.  The  inhabitants  must  now 
either  protect  themselves  or  retire  to  some  of  the  larger  towns. 
That  the  latter  course,  which  was  adopted  by  the  inhabitants  gener- 
ally, proved  the  wiser  of  the  two,  we  may  judge  from  the  sad  fate 
that  came  to  the  family  of  Digory  Serjent,  who  attempted  to  brave 
it  out  on  Sagatabscot  Hill. 

A  number  of  the  early  settlers  of  Worcester  came  from  Boston,  and 
presumably  among  them  was  Digory  Serjent,  as  the  name  appears  on 
record  there  previous  to  his  comiug  here  in  the  spring  of  1685,  at 
which  time  he  is  enrolled  among  the  inhabitants  of  Worcester.  He 
was  married  in  Boston  by  Cotton  Mather,  to  Constance  James, 
Oct.  loth,  1693,  but  by  his  vvili,  dated  March  17th,  1696,  we  infer 
that  his  wife  was  deceased  for  his  daughter  Martha  is  there  mentioned 
as  the  only  heir  to  his  estate.  He  again  married,  and  at  the  time  of 
his  death  left  five  children  who,  with  the  mother,  were  taken  captive 
by  the  Indians.  As  to  the  date  of  the  death  of  Serjent  and  his  wife, 
our  local  historians  differ.  Mr.  Peter  Whitney  says  it  was  in  the 
year  1702;  Mr.  Wall  gives  it  as  occurring  in  the  fall  or  winter  of 
that  year,  while  Mr.  Lincoln  and  Mr.  Barber  record  it  as  happening 
about  1703  or  1704.  It  is  to  be  regretted  that  a  more  definite  date 
cannot  at  present  be  fixed.  In  the  light  of  statistics  now  at  hand, 
the  year  1704  is  the  most  probable  date,  when  the  settlement  of 
1683-4  was  finally  abandoned.  In  the  year  1713  another  attempt- was 
made  to  settle  the  town  which  proved  successful. 

Worcester,  even  in  those  primitive  days  of  her  history,  was  not 
wanting  in  men  of  refinement  and  culture,  and  some  of  the  names 
found  on  the  list  of  early  proprietors,  aside  from  those  of  the  commit- 
tee, bear  more  than  the  ordinary  significance.  Dr.  Leonard  Hoarr 
was  a  very  learned  man,  chosen  to  succeed  Rev.  Chas.  Chauncy  as 
President  of  Harvard  College.  Not  being  successful,  he  resigned  the 
office  March  15th,  1675,  and  died  the  28th  of  November  following. 
His  heirs  retained  their  rights  through  the  second  and  to  the  third 
settlement.     His  wife  was  Bridgett,  daughter  of  John  Lisle,  whom  he 


HISTORICAL  NOTES.  123 

married  in  England.  She  afterwards  married  Mr.  Hezekiah  Usher, 
whose  father  was  the  first  bookseller  in  New  England.  This  Mr. 
Hezekiah  Usher  also  became  one  of  the  proprietors  of  Worcester, 
while  his  wife,  Rridgett  Usher,  succeeded  to  the  right  of  her  former 
husband.  Dr.  Hoarr.  Her  father,  Lord  Lisle,  was  one  of  Cromwell's 
Peers,  and  her  mother,  Lady  Alicia  Lisle,  was  beheaded  at  Winches- 
ter, England,  Sept.  2,  1685,  for  harboring  Mr.  Hicks,  a  non-conform- 
ing minister.  The  marriage  of  Bridgett  Hoarr  with  Mr.  Usher  proved 
an  unhappy  one,  and  she  returned  to  England,  leaving  Boston  July 
12,  1687.  After  the  death  of  Mr.  Usher,  which  occurred  July  11, 
1697,  at  Lynn,  she  came  again  to  Boston  where  she  for  some  years 
resided  in  a  sump'tuous  manner,  dying  there  May  25,  1723. 

Having  in  a  very  brief  manner  traced  out  some  of  the  fortunes  and 
misfortunes  of  the  little  frontier  hamlet,  let  us  take  a  hasty  glance  at 
those  persons  who  from  time  to  time  constituted  the  committee  for 
settling  the  town. 

Captain  Richard  Beeres  was  one  of  the  original  proprietors  of 
Watertown,  was  admitted  freeman  there  March,  1637,  and  was  select- 
man for  more  than  thirty  years.  In  1654  he  was  granted  a  license 
"  to  keep  an  ordinary."  He  was  representative  to  the  General  Court 
from  the  year  1663  to  the  time  of  his  death. 

Captain  Beeres  was  evidently  a  man  of  courage,  having  had 
considerable  experience  as  an  Indian  fighter.  When  the  news  of 
the  attack  on  Brookfield  reached  Boston,  the  Council  immediately 
despatched  two  companies  ;  one  of  them  under  command  of  Capt. 
Beeres,  starting  August  6th,  1675,  they  reached  Brookfield  on  the 
afternoon  of  the  next  day,  it  being  Saturday.  After  a  few  days 
spent  in  reconnoitering-,  Capt.  Beeres  witli  his  men  left  Brookfield 
August  16th,  for  Hadley.  Other  companies  of  soldiers  had  arrived, 
and  on  the  23d  a  council  of  war  was  held  when  it  was  decided  to 
disarm  the  Hadley  Indians  who  had  collected  at  the  fort  on  the  west 
side  of  the  river  about  half-way  between  Hatfield  and  Northampton  ; 
while  negotiations  for  a  peaceful  delivery  of  arms  was  going  on,  the 
Indians,  after  putting  to  death  one  of  their  number,  an  old  man, 
who  was  opposed  to  fighting,  made  their  escape.  On  the  25th, 
Beeres  and  Lathrop  with  100  men  pursued  them,  came  upon  them 
near  a  swamp  in  the  present  town  of  Whately  where  an  engagement 
took  place  in  which  nine  whites  and  twenty-six  Indians  were  killed. 
Capt.  Beeres  and  his  men  are  then  supposed  to  have  returned  to 
Hadley.  All  was  quiet  until  September  1st,  when  the  Indians  fell 
upon  the  town  of  Deerfield,  and  on  the  next  day  destroyed  all  the 


124  BI-CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

houses  at  Northfield  except  the  garrison.  Friday  movmug,  Septem- 
ber 3,  Capt.  Beeres  with  36  men  aud  an  ox  team  loaded  with  stores 
and  ammunition,  started  to  bring  off  the  men  at  the  garrison  at 
Northfield,  not  knowing  of  the  attack  on  the  town  the  day  previous. 
Night  coming  on  they  encamped  within  three  or  four  miles  of  the 
garrison  they  were  attempting  to  reach.  Saturday  morning,  Septem- 
ber 4th,  Capt.  Beeres,  leaving  his  horses  with  a  small  guard  at  the 
camp,  pushed  on  with  the  rest  of  his  men  and  the  team  for  the  fort, 
after  crossing  what  is  now  called  Saw-mill  Brook,  they  found  them- 
selves in  the  midst  of  an  ambuscade  while  the  Indians  were  pouring 
upon  them  a  deadly  fire.  Beeres  and  his  men  fought  bravely,  but 
were  driven  back  three-fourths  of  a  mile  into  a  ravine  on  the  south 
side  of  a  hill,  now  called  Beeres  Hill,  where  the  conflict  was  continued 
until  their  ammunition  was  exhausted  and  the  gallant  leader  and  the 
greater  part  of  his  men  were  slain.  Only  thirteen  men,  including 
the  guard  left  with  the  horses,  escaped  and  returned  to  Hadley. 

Captain  Thomas  Prentice  was  born  in  England  in  the  year  1620, 
came  to  this  country  with  his  wife  Grace  in  1649,  joined  the  church 
at  Cambridge,  and  became  a  freeman  in  1652  ;  first  settling  in  Cam- 
bridge on  the  south  side  of  Charles  River  in  what  was  then  called 
Cambridge  Village,  now  Newton.  He  was  a  farmer.  In  1653  he 
hired  Governor  John  Haynes's  farm  located  in  the  south-west  portion 
of  Newton,  occupying  a  part  of  the  same  farm  in  1694.  As  early 
as  1656  he  was  chosen  Lieutentant  of  a  company  of  Troopers  in 
the  lower  Middlesex  division.  In  1662  was  captain,  and  chosen 
representative  from  Cambridge  in  1672  and  two  successive  years. 
Chairman  of  the  Board  of  Selectmen  of  New  Cambridge  in  1679,  and 
for  many  years  afterward.  In  the  year  1663  he  purchased  85  acres 
of  laud  in  the  easterly  part  of  Cambridge  Village.  This  was  his 
homestead  aud  here  he  lived  for  more  than  half  a  century.  He  not 
only  owned  lands  in  Cambridge,  but  also  in  Billerica  where  he  had  a 
division  of  150  acres  in  1652.  He  purchased  300  acres  of  land 
bounded  on  the  south  by  Long  Island  Sound  and  north-east  by  col- 
lege lands  ;  a  part  of  this  tract  came  in  Stonington,  Conn.,  and  was 
occupied  by  Thomas  Prentice,  Jr.  and  his  son  Samuel  about  the  year 
1710.  Capt.  Prentice  was  one  of  the  most  skilful  amoug  the  Indian 
fighters,  aud  became  noted  for  courage,  self  possession  aud  a  keen 
sense  of  justice.  While  he  was  a  terror  to  his  Indian  foes  he  was  their 
friend  when  at  peace.  He  was  always  ready  to  respond  to  the  call 
of  the  Council,  and  his  company  was  one  of  the  first  to  march  for 
the  protection  of  the  frontier  settlements  at  the  outbreak  of  the  war 


HISTORICAL  NOTES.  125 

with  King  Philip,  all  through  which  contest  he  served  with  great 
distinction.     When  Sir  Edmund  Andi'os  escaped  to  Rhode  Island  in 

1689,  and  was  arrested  at  Bristol,  Capt.  Prentice  was  placed  in 
command  of  the  troops  to  escort  him  as  a  prisoner  back  to  Boston. 
In  the  year  1686  he  was  appointed  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  at  the 
death  of  Major  General  Gookin  the  christian  Indians  petitioned  the 
General  Court  to  have  Capt.  Prentice  appointed  his  successor  as 
their  Superintendent,  he  having  been  in  command  of  the  troops  that 
escorted  them  to  Deer  Island  in  1675.  He  died  July  7,  1709,  at  the 
age  of  89  years,  from  the  effect  of  a  fall  from  his  horse. 

Mr.  Adam  Winthrop  was  grandson  of  Governor  John  Winthrop 
and  only  son  of  Adam  and  Elizabeth  (Glover)  Winthrop,  born 
October  15,  1647.  Graduate  of  Harvard  College,  1668.  Chosen 
Constable  in  1681,  but  refused  to  serve.  Freeman  in  1683.  Chosen 
one  of  the  Commissioners  for  the  town  of  Boston  in  1684,  1685  and 

1690.  Elected  one  of  the  Selectmen  in  1688  and  1689.  Representa- 
tive 1689,  1691  and  1692.  Named  by  the  King  in  the  new  charter 
as  a  member  of  the  Governor's  Council,  but  at  the  first  popular 
election  held  May,  1693,  he  was  left  off.  He  married  in  England, 
Mary,  daughter  of  Col.  Luttrell,  of  Bristol.  Joined  Rev.  Mr. 
Mather's  church,  April  30,  1682,  and  died  August  3,  1700,  leaving  a 
son  Adam,  graduate  of  Harvard  College,  1694,  and  a  daughter  Mary, 
both  born  in  England. 

Captain  John  Wing  was  of  Boston  and  styled  a  mariner,  having  in 
his  younger  days  devoted  considerable  time  to  that  occupation.  Whea 
about  thirty-four  years  of  age  he  in  1671  and  1672  appears  in  Boston 
as  Constable.  In  1676  chosen  to  "look  after  too  much  drinking  in 
private  houses."  In  prosecuting  the  duties  of  that  call  he  perhaps 
saw  the  increasing  demand  for  better  accommodations  for  the  public, 
for  the  next  year  he  took  out  a  license  to  keep  a  tavern  and  to  sell 
beer,  wine  and  cider.  He  for  many  years  kept  the  "  Castle  Tavern," 
a  noted  and  popular  house  for  entertainment.  It  stood  on  the  corner 
of  the  present  Elm'  Street  and  Dock  Square.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  Ancient  and  Honorable  Artillei'y  Co.  and  Captain  of  a  company 
as  early  as  1684.  Being  a  popular  landlord  he  received  the  generous 
patronage  of  his  townsmen  and  soon  found  himself  well  to  do  for 
this  world's  goods.  Becoming  interested  in  the  establishment  of  the 
new  plantation  near  Quinsigamond  Ponds,  and  having  ample  means 
he  undertook  the  task  of  supplying  the  town  with  both  a  grist  and 
saw-mill,  beginning  their  erection  in  the  year  1684  and  completing 
them  before  December,  1685,  receiving  from  the  Committee  a  grant 


126  BI-CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

of  six  lots  therefor.  October  2] ,  1684,  Capt.  Wing  was  added  to  the 
committee  for  settling  the  town,  and  for  more  than  six  years  gave 
much  of  his  time  to  the  demands  of  the  settlement.  He  was  the  first 
Town  Clerk  chosen  by  the  inhabitants.  As  a  financial  speculation, 
his  venture  in  Worcester  was  not  a  great  success,  owing,  undoubtedly, 
to  the  exceedingly  slow  growth  of  the  town,  which  may  have  been 
caused  by  the  unsettled  state  and  threatening  attitude  in  which  the 
Indians  in  this  region  remained  for  many  years  during  this  period 
toward  the  white  settlers.  Mr.  Wing's  mills  stood  on  Mill  Brook 
fifty  rods  north  of  the  present  Lincoln  Square.  His  frame  house 
stood  a  short  distance  west  of  his  mills.  After  the  summer  of  1690, 
Mr.  Wing  probably  spent  the  most  of  his  time  in  Boston,  where  he 
died  February  22,  1703.  His  will  was  probated  the  following  month. 
He  married  Joshabeth,  daughter  of  James  Davis,  and  had  ten 
children,  the  three  eldest  dying  young;  Sarah,  the  eldest  that  grew 
to  mature  age,  married  1st,  John  Street,  after  his  death  she  married 
December  30,  1697,  Thomas  Tomlin. 

Capt.  Wm.  Bond  was  of  Watertown,  and  son  of  Thomas  Bond  of 
Bury  St.  Edmunds,  Suffolk  Co.,  England.  Capt.  Bond  was  one  of 
the  representative  men  of  his  time,  have  filled  acceptably  many  public 
offices,  such  as  Selectman,  Town  Clerk,  Justice  of  the  Peace,  mem- 
ber of  the  Council  of  Safety,  Representative,  and  chosen  the  first 
speaker  of  the  General  Court  under  the  charter  uniting  the  colonies 
of  Massachusetts  Bay  and  Plymouth  into  one  colony.  October  7, 
1679,  appointed  one  of  the  committee  to  rebuild  the  town  of  Lancas- 
ter, and  subsequently  to  assist  in  adjusting  matters  at  Worcester. 

Capt.  Joseph  Lynd  was  of  Charlestown,  and  son  of  Thomas.  He 
was  a  wealthy  merchant  and  the  owner  of  large  tracts  of  land. 
Representative  to  the  General  Court,  member  of  the  Committee  of 
Safety  in  1689,  and  one  of  the  Council  in  the  Charter  of  1691. 

Deacon  John  Haynes  was  of  Sudbury,  which  town  he  represented 
in  the  General  Court,  was  a  surveyor  and  a  person  frequently  called 
upon  to  adjust  differences  and  establish  boundary  lines  between 
estates. 

Penn  Townsend  was  son  of  William  Townsend  of  Boston,  and 
born  December  20,  1651,  taking  his  christian  name  from  his  mother 
whose  maiden  name  was  Hannah  Penn.  Mr.  Townsend  was  made 
freeman  in  1674,  and  the  same  year  member  of  the  Ancient  and 
Honorable  Artillery  Company,  appointed  ensign  in  1675,  under  Capt. 
Thos.  Clarke  in  the  7th  militia  company.  The  next  year  he  was,  on 
motion  of  Capt.  Clarke,  made  a  Lieutenant,  and  in  October,  1680, 


HISTORICAL  NOTES.  127 

received  a  Captain's  commission,  was  a  Major  in  1693,  and  reached 
tiie  rank  of  Colonel  in  the  year  1700.  In  civil  as  well  as  military 
affairs  Col.  Townsend  made  comparatively  the  same  progress  in 
attaining  to  high  and  responsible  positions,  gradually  rising  from 
the  office  of  Inspector  to  Selectman,  Representative,  Commissioner, 
Councillor,  Judge,  and  is  recorded  as  having  been  a  gentleman  very 
courteous  and  affable  in  conversation,  and  was  intimately  associated 
with  some  of  the  best  and  most  able  men  in  the  colony. 

Capt.  Ephraim  Hunt  was  of  Weymouth,  and  son  of  Ephraim  who 
•was  born  in  England.  Capt.  Hunt  served  in  the  expedition  to 
Canada  in  1690,  and  served  as  Colonel  in  the  expedition  against  the 
Indians  at  Groton,  1706-7.  Was  Representative  and  Councillor. 
He  died  in  1713,  leaving  an  estate  valued  at  two  thousand  two  hun- 
dred and  ninety-eight  pounds. 

Captain  Daniel  Henchman's  name  first  appears  on  the  Records  of 
the  Town  of  Boston,  March  26,  1666,  at  which  time  he  was  employed 
by  the  town  to  assist  Mr.  Robert  Woodmansey  in  the  Grammar 
School  and  teach  children  how  to  write,  to  receive  therefor  £40  per 
annum,  the  year  to  begin  March  1st,  1665-6.  By  this  we  judge 
that  Mr.  Henchman  had  already  assumed  the  duties  as  teacher,  an 
avocation  which  he  continued  to  follow  until  March  1st,  1670. 
October  30  of  the  following  year  he  was  given  liberty  to  build  a 
wharf  before  his  own  land.  Admitted  freeman  in  1672.  Became  a 
member  of  the  Ancient  and  Honorable  Artillery  Coinpany,  and 
October  7,  1674,  appointed  Captain  of  the  5th  Boston  Company  of 
the  Colonial  Militia.  It  would  seem  that  in  order  to  merit  such 
rapid  promotion  he  must  have  possessed  more  than  the  ordinary 
aptitude  for  military  service,  or,  as  there  is  some  reason  to  believe, 
he  may  have  been  trained  in  arms  under  Cromwell  in  England,  for 
after  the  death  of  that  noted  leader  not  a  few  of  his  co-workers  found 
homes  this  side  the  Atlantic,  at  a  period  when  their  courage  and 
military  training  qualified  them  to  occupy  prominent  positions  and 
render  valuable  aid  for  the  defence  and  preservation  of  tiie  new 
settlements. 

Captain  Henchman  probably  was  a  descendant  from  the  Henchmans 
of  the  County  of  Nottingham,  England,  and  came  to  this  country 
from  Ireland,  for  at  the  time  of  the  baptism  of  his  daughter  Susanna, 
the  record  calls  the  mother  of  the  church  at  "Dublin  in  Ireland." 
May  12,  1675,  he  was  commissioned  to  go  on  a  special  expedition, 
in  answer  to  an  appeal  for  assistance  against  the  Indians,  from  the 
Plymouth  Colony,  and  marched  from  Boston  with  100  men  on  June 


128  BI-CENTENNIAL  CELEBKATION. 

24th.  Capt.  Thomas  Prentice  also  went  in  command  of  a  troop  of 
horse  with  the  same  expedition.  Again  on  the  5th  of  July,  the  day 
following  that  merciless  attack  on  the  whites  at  Swanzej',  Capt. 
Henchman  marched  with  iiis  company  from  Boston  for  the  Narra- 
ganset  country,  to  treat  with  King  Philip  and  his  fellows.  Ten  days 
afterward  the  entire  military  force  of  Massachusetts  were  called  out 
and  proceeded  to  Pocasset  Swamp  where  an  attack  was  made  upon 
the  Indians.  Darkness  coming  on  the  fighting  ceased,  leaving  five 
of  the  English  soldiers  killed  and  seven  wounded.  All  the  Massa- 
chusetts troops  were  withdrawn  from  the  scene  of  conflict  to  await 
further  developments,  except  Capt.  Henchman's  Company,  that  was 
to  remain  at  Pocasset  to  watch  over  Philip  and  assist  the  Plymouth 
forces.  But  Philip  and  his  warriors  escaped  through  the  swamp  and 
marching  northward  spread  anxiety  and  terror  throughout  all  the 
New  England  settlements.  Henchman  with  a  few  of  his  men  pushed 
on  after  the  Indians,  making  his  way  as  far  as  Mendon  and  Brook- 
field,  when  he  was  ordered  by  General  Daniel  Deuison,  August  9, 
1675,  to  return  to  Pocasset,  get  his  men  and  march  them  to  Boston, 
which  command  he  obeyed.  It  would  appear  that,  up  to  this  time, 
Capt.  Henchman  had  been  one  of  the  most  popular  and  trustworthy 
officers  in  the  colony,  but  now  from  some  cause,  for  which,  perhaps, 
he  alone  was  not  responsible,  he  was  looked  upon  with  some  feeling 
of  disapprobation,  for  when  he  was  appointed  to  command  a  body 
of  troops  collected  from  some  of  the  towns  near  Boston,  the  Roxbury 
men  refused  to  serve  under  him,  and  expressed  a  desire  to  have  Capt. 
Oliver  for  their  commander.  Their  wish,  however,  was  not  gratified, 
for  a  compromise  was  made  by  placing  Capt.  Thos.  Lake  in  com- 
mand. But  Capt.  Henchman  was  actively  employed  during  the 
months  of  August  and  September  in  protecting  the  frontier  towns, 
so  far  as  possible,  from  the  ruthless  hands  of  the  savage.  September 
27  he  was  in  command  of  the  garrison  at  Chelmsford.  November 
1st,  1675,  he  hastened  from  Boston  for  the  purpose  of  rescuing 
several  persons  who  had  been  captured  by  the  Indians  at  Marlboro, 
after  a  march  of  four  days  he  came  upon  the  marauders  ten  miles 
beyond  Mendon,  when  he  engaged  them  and  liberated  the  captives. 
November  9th  he  engaged  a  party  of  Indians  at  Hassanaraisco 
(Grafton).  In  this  engagement  he  lost  his  lieutenant,  Zekill  Curtis, 
who  received  a  mortal  shot  on  reaching  the  door  of  the  wigwam  in 
which  the  Indians  were  found.  November  12th  Henchman  returned 
with  his  command  to  Boston,  and  was  ordered  by  the  Council, 
January  11th,  to  attend  to  the  discharging  and  settling  with  soldiers 


HISTORICAL  NOTES.  129 

from  the  several  towns.  April  27,  1676,  he  was  placed  in  command 
of  six  companies  of  the  militifi  that  were  present  at  the  funeral  of 
Major  Simon  Willard.  The  first  of  June  the  forces  were  mustered 
at  Concord  (which  was  then  an  important  military  post)  and  marched 
towards  Brookfield,  on  their  way  encountered  Indians  at  Washacum 
Ponds  with  whom  they  had  an  engagement.  Continuing  their  march 
they  reached  Hadley  June  14th,  and  returned  to  Boston  the  24th, 
when  he  settled  with  the  troops.  About  September  20  he  was  sent 
to  organize  an  expedition  to  Pennacook. 

Captain  Henchman  besides  being  cousin  of  Judge  Samuel  Sewall, 
was  allied  to  other  prominent  families — the  Hulls,  Gookins,  Quincys, 
Eliots, — and  was  without  doubt  one  of  the  most  capable  officers  of  his 
day,  and  contributed  valiant  service  during  those  troublesome  con- 
tests with  King  Philip  and  his  treacherous  horde.  The  fact  that  he 
on  September  6th,  1676,  asked  to  be  allowed  to  resign  his  commis- 
sion, but  was  refused,  shows  in  what  esteem  he  was  held  by  the 
Council.  Hostilities  with  the  Indians  having  received  a  serious 
check,  he  again  resumed  his  duties  as  a  member  of  the  Committee  to 
Settle  the  Plantation  at  Quinsigaraond,  a  scheme  in  which  he 
evidently  felt  a  deep  interest,  being  one  of  the  original  proprietors. 
Here  he  erected  a  house,  probably  as  early  as  the  year  1683,  and 
with  his  family  soon  took  possession  of  the  new  home,  supplying  it 
with  the  usual  assortment  of  merchandise  kept  in  those  days  at  a 
country  store.  Captain  Henchman  by  his  first  wife  Sarah  had 
Nathaniel,  Hezekiah,  Richard,  Susanna — born  June  7,  1667,  and 
William — born  July  28,  1669,  who  died  in  infancy.  On  the  death  of 
his  wife  Sarah,  he  married  Mary,  daughter  of  William  Poole,  and 
had  William,  born  March  29,  1673;  Jane,  born  May  25,  1674; 
Daniel,  born  June  16,  1677;  and  Mary,  born  June  1,  1682.  Mr. 
Henchman,  five  months  prior  to  his  death,  contemplated  removing 
with  his  family  to  Boston,  but  was  stricken  down  at  his  home  in 
Worcester,  where  he  died  October  15,  1685.  Two  servants,  one  white 
and  the  other  black,  accompanied  by  the  remainder  of  the  family  and 
one  or  two  friends  proceeded  to  that  lonely  grave  in  the  wilderness 
where  was  laid  away  all  that  was  mortal  of  the  Boston  school-master, 
the  brave  and  gallant  soldier.  Captain  Henchman  left  a  large  estate 
for  his  time,  the  total  valuation  of  which  was  £1,381  13s.  9d.  This 
included  a  library,  consisting  of  a  bible,  nine  books  on  divinity  and 
language,  with  one  hundred  and  twenty  books  on  miscellaneous 
subjects,  a  clock,  a  small  stock  of  shop  goods,  such  as  tape,  ribbon, 
cloth,  &c.,  with  buildings  and  lands  at  Worcester,  also  brew-house, 
10 


130  BI-CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

vault  and  well  with  wharf,  which  was  valued  at  €157  10s.  Od,  and  four 
other  pieces  of  real  estate  in  Boston,  The  appraisers  for  the  property 
in  Worcester  were  James  Ford  and  Isaac  Bull.  His  funeral  expenses 
were  £16  3s.  lOd.  The  widow  with  sons  Richard  and  Hezekiah  were 
appointed  to  administer  on  the  estate.  At  this  time,  April  29,  1686, 
Ricliard  was  styled  a  school-master,  and  continued  to  teach  school  in 
Boston  and  receive  rent  from  the  town  for  his  school-house  for  many 
years,  certainly  until  after  March,  1715.     He  married  Esther  Webster, 

December  24,  1697.     Hezekiah  married  Abigail ,  and  lived  in 

Boston,  where  he  died  May,  1694.  Four  children  survived  him, 
the  eldest,  Daniel,  born  in  Boston,  January  1st,  1689,  became  the 
enterprising  bookseller  and  published  the  first  edition  of  the  English 
Bible  printed  in  America.  His  daughter  Lydia  married  Thomas 
Hancock, 1  who  when  a  young  man  served  his  time  with  her  father, 
and  became  also  book-binder,  bookseller  and  merchant  in  Boston. 

Nathaniel,  who  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Worcester,  and 
licensed  to  keep  an  ordinary  in  the  town,  returned  to  Boston  as  early 
as  1694,  and  perhaps  before  that  date,  for  he  was  married  in  Boston 
by  Cotton  Mather,  January  11,  1693,  to  Hannah  Green  and  had  three 
children,  two  sons  and  one  daughter.  Nathaniel,  the  eldest,  born 
March  31,  1695,  died  young  ;  Mary,  born  April  13,  1697  ;  Nathaniel, 
born  November  2,  1699,  graduate  of  Harvard  College,  1717,  who 
also  left  descendants.  The  three  sons  of  Capt.  Henchman,  of  whom 
special  mention  has  been  made,  became  useful  and  prominent  citizens 
of  Boston  where  they  resided  for  many  years. 

To  ascribe  to  Major-General  Daniel  Gookin  the  title  of  Father  of 
Worcester,  would  be  conferring  a  compliment  well  deserved,  and  at 
the  same  time  impart  an  honor  to  Worcester  which  she  need  not  feel 
ashamed  of  or  reluctant  to  accept.  In  those  early  days  of  New  Eng- 
land settlements.  General  Gookin  was  familiar  with  all  this  beautiful, 
yet  wild  and  unreclaimed  region  of  country  lying  between  the  towns 
of  Lancaster,  Mendon  and  Brookfield.  His  duties  as  Superintendent 
of  all  the  Indians  who  would  come  under  the  submission  of  the  Massa- 
chusetts Bay  Colony  (he  having  been  appointed  by  the  General  Court 
to  that  office  in  1656),  made  it  necessary  for  him,  from  time  to  time, 
to  pass  over  this  territory,  and  not  infrequently  had  he  made  his  visits 
in  company  with  that  venerable  apostle,  John  Eliot.  Here  on  the 
summit  of  Pakachoag,  these  men,  surrounded  by  the  Sagamores, 
Hoorrawanwit,    Woonnaskochu  and   their    fellows,  Eliot   conducted 


1  "Was  uncle  to  the  Governor,  John  Hancock,  who  became  heir  to  his  estate. 


HISTORICAL  NOTES.  131 

religious  services,  while  Gookin  followed  with  his  lessons  of  civil 
government. 

As  early  as  October  11,  1665,  Gookin  was  appointed  chief  of  a  com- 
mittee to  view  this  location  for  the  purpose  of  making  a  settlement, 
but  the  death  of  Lieut.  Thos.  Noyes,  one  of  their  number,  and  other 
causes,  prevented  any  action  until  after  the  appointment  of  a  new 
committee,  May  15,  1667,  and  on  receiving  a  report  favorable  to  a 
settlement,  the  General  Court  placed  him  at  the  head  of  the  committee 
to  arrange  matters  for  the  plantation.  The  fidelity  with  which  he 
prosecuted  that  trust  is  shown  by  his  successful  efforts  in  satisfying 
the  Couit  of  the  justice  in  reserving  this  tract  of  land  for  the  use  of  a 
plantation  rather  than  to  allow  it  to  fall  into  the  hands  of  those  who 
claimed  it  by  right  of  prior  grants  for  speculation.  It  is  quite  proba- 
ble that  it  was  through  his  influence  that  such  men  as  Dr.  Leonard 
Hoarr,  Capt.  Daniel  Henchman,  Adam  Winthrop  and  Hezekiah  Usher, 
became  proprietors  of  the  town.  For  a  period  of  twenty  years,  and 
in  fact  until  his  death,  there  were  no  signs  of  abatement  in  his  inter- 
est for  the  settlement.  As  Mr.  Gookin  had  received  honors  at  the 
hands  of  Oliver  Cromwell,  and  doubtless  one  who  held  him  in  high 
esteem,  it  is  reasonable  to  believe  that  Mr.  Gookin  used  his  influence 
in  selecting  a  name  for  the  new  plantation  that  might  commemorate 
that  crowning  victory  of  Cromwell  at  Worcester. 

Major-General  Daniel  Gookin  was  son  of  Daniel  and  grandson  of 
John  Gookin,  of  Ripple  Court,  County  of  Kent,  England.  The 
grandfather  of  John  was  Arnoldus,  which  is  as  far  as  the  line  has 
been  traced.  Arnoldus  had  a  son  Thomas,  the  father  of  John,  of 
Ripple  Court.  The  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch  married 
"  Marye  Birrde,"  at  Canterbury  Cathedral,  Jan'y  31,  1608,  and  went 
to  Ireland,  was  called  of  Carrigaline,  County  of  Cork,  a  Parish  seven 
miles  southeast  from  the  city  of  Cork.  He  became  one  of  the  paten- 
tees for  the  settlement  of  Virginia,  receiving  his  patent  in  1620, 
leaving  Ireland  the  following  year  in  the  "Flying  Harte,"  with  a 
large  number  of  servants,  said  to  have  been  50  in  number,  a  good 
supply  of  cattle  and  provisions,  also  30  passengers.  The  vessel 
reached  Virginia  Nov.  22,  1621,  and  Master  Daniel  Gookin  planted 
his  colony  at  Newport  News.  The  following  year  occurred  that 
memorable  massacre  by  the  Indians  when  about  350  whites  were 
put  to  death.  The  commissioners  becoming  alarmed  for  the  safety 
of  the  outlying  settlements,  issued  orders  for  the  people  to  congregate 
at  the  larger  places  for  self  protection  against  the  savage  foe.     Master 


132  BI-CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

Gookin  refused  to  obey  the  call,  and  with  only  thirty-five  men  about 
him,  remained  and  protected  his  property. 

Major-General  Daniel  Gookin  was  born  about  1612,  and  the  first 
we  leurn  of  him  he  is  conveying  land  at  Newport  News  for  his  father, 
under  date  of  Feb.  1st,  1630,  his  father  having  probably  returned  to 
Ireland.  Dec.  29,  1637,  Daniel  Gookin  received  a  grant  of  2,500 
acres  of  land  in  upper  Norfolk.  In  1642  we  find  him  Captain  of  the 
train-baud,  also  one  of  the  commissioners  for  the  monthly  court  of 
upper  Norfolk.  Nov.  4,  1642,  he  received  another  grant  of  1,400 
acres  on  Rappahannock  River. 

In  the  year  1642  our  Puritan  colonists  sent  missionaries  to  Virginia 
for  the  purpose  of  converting  the  people  from  Episcopalianism.  The 
following  year  the  Assembly  passed  an  act  prohibiting  a  New  England 
clergyman  from  preacliing  or  teaching,  publicly  or  privately ;  also 
ordered  the  Governor  and  Council  to  take  care  that  all  non-conform- 
ists depart  the  colony.  Capt.  Gookin  had  become  one  of  the  converts, 
and  so  with  his  family  left  Virginia,  arriving  at  Boston,  May  10, 
1644  ;  sixteen  days  later  he  was  admitted  into  the  First  Church,  and 
nineteen  days  after  his  ai'rival  honored  with  the  freedom  of  the 
colony.  For  a  few  years  he  lived  in  Roxbury  and  Boston,  but  in 
1648  removed  with  his  family  to  Cambridge,  and  was  transferred, 
Sept.  3  of  that  year,  from  Mr.  Cotton's  church,  at  Boston,  to  the 
church  at  Cambridge.  Chosen  Representative  for  Cambridge  in  1648 
and  1651,  the  latter  year  was  Speaker  of  the  house,  assistant  in  1652, 
and  re-elected  for  thirty- four  successive  years. 

In  1654  he  made  a  voyage  to  England,  partly  on  private  business  ; 
was  pleasantly  received  by  Cromwell,  who  appointed  him  coimiiis- 
sioner  to  induce  New  Englanders  to  emigrate  to  the  Island  of  Jamaica. 
Gookin  reached  home  on  the  19th  of  January,  1655,  and  although  he 
devoted  considerable  time  to  Cromwell's  colonization  scheme,  was  not 
successful,  owing,  perhaps,  to  the  fear  of  Spanish  invasions,  and  on 
June  20,  1657,  he  addressed  a  letter  to  John  Thurloe,  Esq.,  Secretary 
of  State,  under  Cromwell,  asking  to  be  relieved  as  commissioner. 
In  1662,  Mr.  Gookin  and  Rev.  Jonathan  Mitchell  were  appointed 
the  first  licensers  of  the  Printing  Press  in  Cambridge.  He  was  a 
staunch  friend  and  supporter  of  Thomas  Danforth  against  arbitrary 
power,  and  among  the  foremost  to  defend  the  chartered  rights  of  the 
colonists.  Resolute  and  unswerving,  he  firmly  maintained  the  bent 
of  his  mind,  whether  relating  to  civil  or  religious  matters  ;  was  out- 
spoken against  the  Quakers,  but  a  firm  friend  of  the  Praying  Indians, 
having   written    their  history.     The   Praying  Indians,  as  they  were 


HISTORICAL  NOTES.  133 

■ 

called,  were  those  who  had  been  attracted  by  the  earnest  appeals  of 
Eliot  and  Gookin,  and  had  signified  their  desire  to  live  on  friendly 
relations  with  the  English  settlers.     The  plan  was  to  bring  the  Indians 
together   in  villages   by   themselves,    and  through    the   influence    of 
pastors  and  teachers,  to  try  the  experiment  of  civilizing  them.     They 
were  encouraged  in  the   pursuit  of  agriculture  by  the  purchase  by  the 
whites  of  the  surplus  of  their  products,  and,  besides   collecting  furs, 
they  made  baskets,  clapboards,  shingles  and  many  other  useful  arti- 
cles,  which    found    ready    sale.      They  had  their  own   schools   and 
churches,  and,  so  far  as  possible,  native  teachers,  marshals,  consta- 
bles, and  Justices  of  the  Peace.     Some  seven  of  these  Indian  villages 
had  grown  into  being  under  the  kindly  care  of  Gookin.     The  test  of 
eighteen  years  had  been  fruitful  of  good  results,  when,  on  the  24th  of 
June,  1675,  the  attack  on   Swansea   was  the  signal  of  an   outbreak 
which  soon  threatened  the  destruction  of  all  the  English  settlements. 
Reports  were  rife  claiming  the  unfaithfulness  of  the  Praying  Indians  ; 
stories  were  so  magnified  that  people  really  became  alarmed  for  safety, 
but  Gookin    and    Eliot   were    firm   in    the    belief  of   the    fidelity   of 
their  Indian  subjects.     The  excitement  grew  to   such  an  extent  that 
Gookin  was  obliged  to  call  all  his  friendly  Indians  (about  3,000  in 
number)  to  Boston,  in  the  autumn  of  1675,  and   place  them  for  safe 
keeping  on  Long  and  Deer  Islands,  in  the  harbor.     Still  the  people 
did  not  feel  safe,  and  threats  of  violence  were  made  against  Gookin, 
Danforth  and  Eliot,  so  that  for  a  time  it  was  unsafe  for  either  of 
them  to   walk   the  streets ;   and  Richard   Scott  was    imprisoned  for 
threatening  the    lives  of   Gookin  and  Danforth.      On  election    day, 
April,    1676,   Gookin   was   put  off  the   Bench,   and  on  the  7th  day 
of  the  month,  while  he  with  others  were  going  down  to  the  Island  in 
a  boat  to  look  after  the  wants  of  the  Indians,  they  were,  as  it  appears, 
purposely  run  down  by  a  much  larger  craft,  and  Gookin  came  very 
near  being  drowned,  having,  as  he  said,  "sunk  twice  beneath  the  sur- 
face of  the  water  before  being  rescued."     Five  days  later,  April  r2th, 
a  portion  of  the  Indians  were  removed  from  the  Islands  and  taken  to 
Cambridge,  where  Gookin  took   care  of  them   until  they  were   again 
remanded  to  their  homes  from  whence  they  had  been  so  unceremoni- 
ously called.     Many  were  the  stories  of  their  treachery  and  disloyalty, 
but  Gookin  believed  in  them  ;  he  knew  by  many  ways  that  they  could 
be  trusted.     He  remembered  how,  time  after  time,  he  had  sent  them 
as  runners  and  scouts  ;    how,  at  10  o'clock  on  the  night  of  February 
9th,  1675-6,  Job  Kattenanit  fell  exhausted  at  his  door,  in  Cambridge, 
having  travelled  80  miles  through  a  wilderness  on  snow  shoes  to  bring 


134  BI-CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

• 
the  news  that  the  Indians  contemplated  the  destruction  of  Lancaster  the 

following  day.  At  which  time  Major  Gookin  arose  from  his  bed,  and 
after  a  liasty  consultation  with  his  neighbor,  Mr.  Danforth,  despatched 
a  courier  in  the  night  for  Marlboro',  Concord  and  Lancaster,  to 
arouse  the  troops  for  the  defence  of  the  latter  place.  The  expedi- 
tion was  but  partially  successful,  for  the  Rev.  Mr.  Rowlandson's  house 
was  burned,  several  whites  killed,  and  some  20  women  and  children 
carried  away  captive.  But  the  men  sent  out  by  Grookin  arrived  in 
season  to  drive  off  the  enemy  and  prevent  the  entire  destruction  of 
the  town.  A  petition  was  soon  sent  to  the  Grovernor  and  Council 
praying  that  some  step  might  be  taken  towards  the  redemption  of  the 
captives,  especially  the  wife  and  children  of  minister  Rowlandson.  and 
in  compliance  the  Council  oi'dered  Mr.  Gookin  to  try  and  procure  one 
or  two  Indians  with  courage  sufficient  to  undertake  the  hazardous  task 
of  treating  with  the  enemy  for  the  captives.  At  first  he  was  unable 
to  find  any  one  willing  to  go  ;  but  March  23,  at  the  suggestion  of  Mr. 
Gookin,  Mr.  Rowlandson  again  petitioned,  and  this  time  an  Indian, 
Tom  Dublet  alias  Nepponet,  by  name,  was  found  ready  to  make  the 
attempt.  Accordingly  Capt.  Henchman  was  ordered  to  make  an 
agreement  with  Tom,  and  he  was  sent  to  Major  Gookin's  house,  at 
Cambridge,  where  he  received  his  instructions,  leaving  on  Monday, 
April  3d.  On  the  12th  he  returned  with  a  letter  from  the  enemy 
giving  assurance  that  most  of  the  captives  were  alive  and  well,  and 
intimating  that  an  exchange  might  be  made.  Tom  again  went  to  the 
captors  in  company  with  another  Indian  named  Peter  Tatatiquinea, 
returning  April  27th,  with  a  letter,  stating  that  the  minister's  wife 
could  be  released  for  £20  (that  sum  having  been  named  by  Mrs. 
Rowlandson  herself)  ;  also  that  Mrs.  Kettel  would  be  exchanged  (but 
she  did  not  know  what  her  husband  could  give).  Mr.  John  Hoar,  of 
Concord,  returned  with  the  money,  accompanied  with  Tom  and  Peter, 
and  Mrs.  Rowlandson  was  returned  to  Lancaster,  May  2d.  The 
remaining  captives  were  ransomed  or  succeeded  in  gaining  their  own 
liberty.  All  through  the  Indian  war  of  1675  and  1676  the  Praying- 
Indians  remained  true  to  the  white  people,  and  in  all  probability  saved 
many,  if  not  all  the  settlements  of  New  England,  from  complete 
annihilation.  They  were  so  many  thousand  warriors  withheld  from 
the  strength  and  infiuence  of  King  Philip,  while  at  the  same  time 
many  of  them  willingly  went  into  service  as  soldiers  and  spies  against 
their  own  race  for  the  protection  of  the  colonists  ;  and  this  they  did 
through  the  influence  of  Gookin  and  Eliot,  who  were  in  due  time 
reinstated  into  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  their  English  brethren. 


HISTORICAL  NOTES.  135 

It   was    claimed   that    those  Indian   allies   alone  killed  four  hundred 
of  the  enemy. 

In  the  year  1674  Mr.  Gookin  wrote  "  Historical  Collections  of  the 
Indians  in  New  England  of  the  several  Nations,  Customs,  Manners, 
Religions  and  Government  before  the  Elnglish  planted  there,"  and 
dedicated  it  to  King  Charles  II.  and  Hon.  Robert  Boyle.  This  was  . 
printed  by  the  Massachusetts  Historical  Society  in  1792.  In  1677 
he  wrote  a  Historical  account  of  the  doings  and  sufferings  of  the 
Christian  Indians  in  New  England  in  the  years  1675-76-77.  He 
also  wrote  the  History  of  New  Eugland,  in  eight  volumes,  which  he 
left  in  manuscript  and  was  lost. 

It  is  said  that  on  one  of  the  return  trips  of  General  Gookin  from 
England,  he  was  accompanied  by  the  regicides,  Major-General  William 
Goffe,  and  his  father-in-law.  Gen.  Whalley,  who  for  a  time  made  their 
home  at  his  house  in  Cambridge,  and  that  he  took  care  of  their  estates. 
Mr.  Gookin  evidently  was  a  man  of  means,  and  after  his  arrival  in 
New  England  devoted  nearly  all  his  time  and  energy  to  service  in 
behalf  of  the  colonists,  acting  on  many  important  committees  and 
rendering  valuable  aid  in  looking  after  the  wants  of  Harvard  College. 

In  1657  the  General  Court  granted  him  500  acres  of  land  for  ser- 
vices rendered  the  colony. 

His  letter  of  February  14th,  1680,  written  in  opposition  to  the  send- 
ing of  agents  to  England  for  the  purpose  of  taking  action  regarding 
Mason's  claim,  attracted  considerable  attention  at  the  time  and 
increased  his  popularity  in  New  England.  In  1681  he  was  honored 
with  the  title  of  Major-General  of  the  colony.  After  passing  an 
eventful  and  useful  life,  he  died  March  19th.  1687,  at  the  age  of  75 
years.  His  will  was  made  August  13th,  1685,  and  proved  March  31, 
1687.  The  property  bequeathed  amounted  to  £323  6s.  lid.  He 
was  the  last  Major-General  under  the  Colonial  period,  and  as  Judge 
Sewall  records  him  in  his  diary,  "  a  right  good  man." 

That  he  came  from  a  goodly  family  in  England  there  is  abundant 
evidence,  his  father  having  been  the  possessor  of  a  large  estate,  while 
his  uncle,  Sir  Vincent  Gookin,  was  a  man  of  prominence  and  influence 
in  both  England  and  Ireland,  being  especially  notable  in  the  County 
of  Cork,  representing  the  towns  of  Bandon  and  Kinsale  in  Parliament. 
Col.  Charles  Gookin,  Deputy  Governor  of  Pennsylvania,  was  grandson 
of  this  §ir  Vincent.  Out  of  Major-General  Gookin's  family  of  eight 
children,  three  died  in  infancy ;  Mai^y  married  Edmund  Batter,  of 
Salem  ;  Elizabeth  married  first,  Rev.  John  Eliot.  Jr.  ;  second,  Edmund 
Quincy,  of  Braintree ;  Daniel,  graduate  Harvard  College  1669,  where 


136  BI-CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

he  was  a  Fellow  for  many  years,  afterwards  settled  as  pastor  of  the 
first  church  at  Sherborn  ;  Samuel  was  appointed  Sheriff  of  Middlesex 
County  and  succeeded  John  Green  as  Marshal-General  or  High 
Sheriff  of  the  Colony.  On  the  nullification  of  that  offlce,  he  was  High 
Sheriff  of  Sutfolk  County.  In  1702  made  High  Sheriff  for  Middlesex 
County  and  was  continued  in  office  for  more  than  twenty-five  years. 
It  was  probably  his  son  Daniel  who  held  office  as  the  first  High 
Sheriff  of  Worcester  County  from  1731  until  his  death  in  1743. 
Nathaniel,  the  youngest  son  of  the  Major,  was  a  graduate  of  Harvard 
College  in  1675,  studied  for  the  ministry  and  succeeded  Rev.  Urian 
Oakes  as  pastor  of  the  church  at  Cambridge.  June  27,  1692,  he 
became  a  member  of  that  honorable  body  known  as  "President  and 
Fellows  of  Harvard  College." 


THE  ORIGINAL  ORDER  NAMING  THE  TOWN. 


Through  the  courtesy  of  the  Worcester  Society  of  Antiquity 
we  are  enabled  to  present  as  a  frontispiece  to  this  work  a 
fac-simile  of  the  original  order  naming  the  town,  which  reads 
as  follows  ; 

"At  a  Gen''"  Court  held  in  Boston  y"  15*.    October  1684/ 

"Vpon  y**  Motion  &  desire  of  Maj"   Gen""   Daniel  Gookin   Cap'  Thomas 

Prentice  &  Daniel   Henchman   this   Courts   Comittee  for  y"  setling  of  a  new 

Plantation  neare  Quansikomon  pond 

1  Humbly  desireing  j'  j"  Court  will  please  to  name  j«  Town  Worcester, 
&  y*  y^    Brand  marke  for  cattle  there  may  be  thus     I'Q. 

2  That  one  of  sd  Comittee  being  deceased  j'  y'"  Court  will  pleas  to  appoint 
a  fitt  man  to  supply  his  place,  for  to  help  in  y"  further  setling  of  s'^ 
Town  to  all  intents  &  purposes  as  formerly  ordered ;  &  do  humbly 
ppound  to  y"  Hon"^''  Court  y'  M'  Adam  Winthrop  may  be  y"  person, 
being  one  interested  in  s''  Town. 

The  Depu*^  Judge  meete  to  graunt  all  the  aboue  men- 
tioned pticulers  &  desire  o'  hon''''  magis'^  Consent  thereto 

William  Torrey  Cleric 
Consented  to  by  the  magis'^  Edward  Rawson  Secret 

17"'  of  October  1684. 

The   magis'"  Judge  meete  to  Add  Capt  wing   to   bee 
21  Octob  84  of  this  Comittee   their   brethren  the  Deputyes  hereto 

Consenting- 

Edward  Rawson  Secret 
Consented  to  by  the  Dep'" 
^  ■  William  Torrey  Cleric " 


11 


WORCESTER   OF   TODAY. 


Of  the  oatnral  site  of  Worcester,  Prof.  Hitchcock,  in  his  report  on 
the  Geology  «  f  Massachusetts,  says  :  "  This  valley  possesses  precisely 
those  features  which  art  is  capable  of  rendering  extremely  fascinating. 
There  is  scarcely  to  be  met  with  in  this  or  any  other  country  a  more 
charming  landscape  than  Worcester  presents  from  almost  any  of  the 
moderately  elevated  hills  that  surround  it."  In  a  still  earlier  period, 
President  Dwight's  notes  of  his  visit  to  Worcester,  written  near  the 
close  of  the  last  century,  are  a  vivid  record  of  a  bright  and  hand- 
some New  England  town  adorned  with  beautiful  and  well-kept  homes. 
At  all  times  these  natural  and  artificial  features  of  Worcester  have 
won  the  pride  of  her  citizens  and  the  admiration  of  her  visitors, 
and  never  more  so  than  at  the  present  time,  when  in  a  city  of  seventy 
thousand  people,  the  central  portions  present  the  more  advanced 
aspects  of  city  life,  pushing  out  into  the  suburbs  and  along  the 
slopes  of  the  outlying  hills  the  representative  homes  of  Worcester. 

The  following  comparative  figures  will  be  of  interest : — 
Population  of  Worcester. 


1776, 

1,925 

1850, 

17,049 

1800, 

2,411 

1860, 

24,973 

1820, 

2,962 

1870. 

41,105 

1830, 

4,172 

1880, 

58,295 

1840, 

7,497 

1884, 

(estimated),  70,000 

1845, 

11,556 

Valuation  of   Worcester. 


1800, 

$  829,651 

1860, 

$16,406,900 

1810, 

1,476,383 

1880, 

41,006,862 

1820, 

2,015,750 

1884, 

50,773,475 

1840,  4,288,950 


140  BI-CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

The  City  Government. 

The  city  by  the  statute  of  1866  is  divided  into  eight  wards.  The 
annual  election  takes  place  on  the  Tuesday  next  following  the  second 
Monday  of  December.  The  municipal  year  commences  on  the  first 
Monday  in  January. 

The  City  Government  is  made  up  of  the  Mayor,  chosen  annually, 
and  a  City  Council  of  two  branches,  a  Board  of  Aldermen  of  one 
from  each  ward,  and  a  Common  Council  of  three  from  each  ward,  the 
elections  in  the  wards  so  alternating  that  all  these  terms  of  service 
shall  be  for  two  years.  At  the  annual  city  election  are  also  chosen 
one  Assistant-Assessor  for  each  ward  for  one  year,  and  one  of  the 
three  members  of  the  School  Committee,  from  each  ward,  to  serve 
for  three  years. 

By  the  City  Council  in  Convention  in  January  are  chosen  the  fol- 
lowing, all  for  the  term  of  one  year :  The  City  Auditor,  Treasurer 
and  Collector  of  Taxes,  Commissioner  of  Highways,  City  Engineer, 
City  Clerk,  City  Solicitor,  Water  Commissioner,  Water  Registrar, 
Superintendent  of  Public  Buildings,  Superintendent  of  Sewei's  and 
City  Messenger.  Also  for  terms  of  three  years  :  the  Commissioner 
of  Public  Grounds  and  the  Commissioners  of  the  Jaques  and  other 
funds  of  the  City  Hospital ;  and  a  Commissioner  of  Hope  Cemetery 
for  five  years. 

In  December  of  each  year  are  elected  by  the  City  Council  the  Chief 
Engineer  and  four  Assistant  Engineers  of  the  Fire  Department  for 
one  year  ;  one  of  these,  Superintendent  of  Fire  Alarm  Telegraph. 
Also  two  of  the  twelve  directors  of  the  Free  Public  Library  for  terms 
of  six  years  and  two  Overseers  of  the  Poor  for  three  years. 

There  are  elected  by  concurrent  vote  in  January,  four  trustees  of 
the  City  Hospital,  and,  by  concurrent  vote  in  December,  of  each 
year,  one   Commissioner  of    Sinking  Funds  for  three  years. 

There  are  appointed  by  the  Mayor  and  Aldermen  in  January,  a 
City  Physician  for  three  years,  one  member  of  the  Board  of  Health 
for  two  years,  a  City  Marshal  and  two  assistants  for  one  year,  and 
the  police  force  and  Constables  for  the  same  period. 

There  are  elected  by  the  Common  Council  its  President  and  Clerk, 
and  by  the  School  Committee  annually  a  Superintendent  of  Schools, 
and  Truant  Officers. 

The  public  Charitable  institutions  of  the  city  are  in  charge  of 
nine  Overseers   of  the  Poor,    six  of   these  chosen  as  above  stated, 


WORCESTER   OF   TO-DAY.  141 

with  the  Mayor,  City  Marshal  and  Superintendent  of  Schools  as  ex- 
ojficio  members. 

The  Board  of  Health,  established  by  legislative  enactment  in  1877, 
consists  of  the  City  Physician  ex-officio,  and  two  members  chosen  as 
above. 

The  Standing  Committees  of  the  Board  of  Aldermen  are  appointed 
by  the  Mayor,  those  of  the  Common  Council  by  the  President  of  that 
body.  The  Joint  Committee  on  Finance  consists  of  the  Mayor  and 
President  of  the  Common  Council  ex-officio,  and  two  Aldermen  and 
three  Common  Councilmen. 

The  Joint  Standing  Committee  on  Public  Works  is  composed  of 
the  Mayor  and  President  of  the  Common  Council  and  the  respective 
Chairmen  of  the  Joint  Committees  on  Water,  Sewers,  Highways  and 
Sidewalks,  Fire  Department,  and  Lighting  the  Streets. 

The  Mayor  has  no  vote  in  the  Board  of  Aldermen,  but  he  has  a 
veto  power.  The  Finance  Committee  considers  and  reports  on  all 
subjects  relating  to  the  finances  of  the  city,  and  approves  all  bills  and 
accounts  against  the  city.  In  1875  the  law  of  the  State  provided  for 
municipal  sinking  funds,  and  in  the  same  year  the  system  went  into 
operation  in  this  city.  Concerning  the  operation  of  this  fund,  the 
late  Hon.  A.  H.  Bullock,  in  his  report  in  1881  as  one  of  the  Worcester 
Board  of  Commissioners  of  Sinking  Funds,  said : 

"  The  beneficent  operations  of  the  sinking  fund  cannot  be  perceived  by 
looking  at  the  reports  of  any  one  year.  These  funds  have  been  constantly  at 
work.  These  funds  have  not  merely  been  accumulating  interest,  but  they 
have  been  paying  oflf  debts.  But  for  this  last  mentioned  use  the  amount  of 
the  "Worcester  sinking  funds  would  be  much  more  striking  to  the  popular  eye 
than  it  now  is.  The  funds  amounted  at  the  close  of  the  year  1881  to 
§265,299.92.  But  in  the  brief  period,  from  1876  to  1881  inclusive,  the  Sinking 
Fund  Commissioners  have  paid  at  different  times  of  the  city  debt  the  sum  of 
§657,400.  If  these  payments  had  not  been  made,  the  debt  of  the  city  would 
now  be  83,239,700,  whereas  in  fact  it  is  82,582,300.  The  contributious  made 
by  the  city  to  the  Sinking  Funds  in  the  six  years  referred  to  have  been 
8895,236.93,  showing  *  *  *  *  the  high  relations  which  the  Sinking 
Funds  sustain  to  the  process  of  paying  the  debt  of  the  city  and  the  important 
function  they  sustain  in  building  up  and  strengthening  the  credit  of  the 
city." 

By  the  continuance  of  the  same  policy  the  same  relation  between 
the  city  debt  and  the  sinking  funds  is  maintained  at  the  present  time 
in  the  eighteen  distinct  funds  the  trust  now  covers. 


142  BI-CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

General  Notes. 

Worcester  has  forty-uiue  miles  of  sewers,  uinety-seveu  miles  of 
water  pipe,  and  two  hundred  miles  of  streets.  There  are  used  in 
lighting  the  streets  of  the  city  fifty  electric  lights,  seven  hundred  and 
seven  gas  lights,  and  one  thousand  two  hundred  and  thirty-four  gaso- 
lene lights.  The  Worcester  Gas  Light  Company  went  into  operation 
in  1851.     The  electric  street  lighting  system  was  introduced  in  1883. 

The  religious  bodies  of  the  city,  in  the  order  of  their  establishment 
here,  are  as  follows  : — 


Date.  Chs. 

Congregational  (Trin.),  1716  11 

Congregational  (Unit.)  17.S5  2 

Baptist,  1812  7 

Methodist  Episcopal,  1830  8 

Friends.  1837  1 

Universalist,  1841  1 

Second  Advent,  1841  1 


Protestant  Episcopal, 

Roman  Catholic, 

Disciples, 

Lutheran  (Swedish), 

Free  Baptist, 

Jewish,  1881 

Christadelphian,  1881 


Date. 

1843 

Chs. 

3 

1846 

7 

1860 

1 

1881 

1 

1881 

1 

The  Banks  of  Worcester  are  here  named  in  the  order  of  dates  of 
their  organization  : 

Worcester  National  Bank,  1864  (formerly  the  Worcester  Bank. 
Incorporated  1804)  ;  capital,  $.^00,000. 

Central  National  Bank,  1864  (Incorporated  as  a  State  Bank 
1829)  ;  capital,  $300,000. 

Quinsigamond  National  Bank,  1865  (Incorporated  as  a  State  Bank 
1833)  ;  capital.  $250,000. 

Citizens  National  Bank,  1865  (Incorporated  as  a  State  Bank 
1836)  ;  capital,  $150,000. 

Mechanics  National  Bank,  1865  (Incorporated  as  a  State  Bank 
1848)  ;  capital,  $350,000. 

City  National  Bank,  1864  (Incorporated  as  a  State  Bank  1854)  ; 
capital.  $400,000. 

First  National  Bank,  1863  ;  capital,  $300,000. 

Worcester  Safe  Deposit  and  Trust  Co.,  1869  ;  capital,  $200,000. 

The  Savings  Banks  are  as  follows : — 

Deposits. 

Worcester  County  Institution  for  Savings,  $9,034,844.71 

Worcester  Mechanics  Savings  Bank,  3,544,065.80 

Worcester  Five  Cents  Savings  Bank,            •  2,675,120.86 

People's  Savings  Bank,  4,033,367.19 


WORCESTER    OF   TO-DAY.  143 

The  Worcester  Co-operative  Bauk.  Incorporated  1877.  Authorized 
capital,  $1,000,000.     Shares  iu  force  iu  1884,  3,705. 

Home  Co-operative  Bauk.  Incorporated  1882.  Authorized  capital, 
61,000,000. 

The  local  Insurance  Companies  are  the  following  : — 

Worcester  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Company.     1823. 

Merchants'  and  Farmers'  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Company.     1846. 

First  National  Fire  Insurance  Company.     1869. 

Worcester  Manufacturers'  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Company.     1855. 

State  Mutual  Life  Assurance  Company.     1845. 

The  Worcester  Free  Public  Library  was  founded  in  1859.  It  is  in 
charge  of  twelve  directors,  two  of  whom  are  chosen  iu  December  of 
each  year  by  the  City  Council  in  convention.  The  present  structure 
on  Elm  street  was  completed  and  occupied  in  1861.  The  leading 
features  of  the  Library  are  :  Circulating  Department  26,136  volumes, 
free  to  all  residents  over  fifteen  years  of  age.  Intermediate  Depart- 
ment 14,107  volumes,  special  restrictions  as  to  being  taken  out. 
Reference  Department  or  Green  Library  20,961  volumes,  attached  to 
which  is  the  collection  of  the  Worcester  District  Medical  Society. 
Free  Reading  Room,  258  papers  and  periodicals,  A  printed  cata- 
logue has  been  issued  and  a  manuscript  catalogue  is  kept  closely 
written  up.  The  methods  of  the  management  of  the  Free  Library 
have  attracted  wide  attention,  both  in  this  country  and  abroad,  in 
respect  to  the  faithfulness  and  freedom  with  which  resort  to  the 
books  by  all  classes  of  readers  is  encouraged  and  made  effective. 
Especially  valuable  is  the  relation  of  the  Library  to  the  pupils  and 
students  in  our  city  schools  to  whose  pursuit  of  knowledge  in  all 
branches  of  instruction  the  librarian  and  his  assistants  are  constantly 
helpful. 

The  American  Antiquarian  Society  was  incorporated  in  1812. 
Isaiah  Thomas  was  its  chief  founder  and  earliest  benefactor.  His 
own  library  and  collections,  which  were  large  for  their  period,  having 
formed  the  basis  of  the  present  library  of  upwards  of  70,000  volumes, 
a  collection  whose  value  is  recognized  in  all  parts  of  the  world.  The 
present  structure  was  occupied  in  1853. 

The  Worcester  Society  of  Antiquity  is  an  organization  of  similar 
scope  of  last  named,  but  more  especially  local  in  its  control  and 
operations.  Founded  in  1875.  Its  library  consists  of  about  11,000 
volumes,  with  a  large  archaeological  collection. 

Worcester    County    Mechanics    Association.       1842.      Mechanics 


144  BI-CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

Hall  completed  1857.  It  maintains  a  reading  room  for  its  members 
and  has  a  library  of  7,0Q0  volumes. 

Worcester  County  Law  Library.  One  of  tlie  most  extensive  and 
valuable  law  libraries  in  New  England.     6,000  volumes. 

Worcester  County  Horticultural  Society.  1840.  Horticultural 
Hall  on  Front  Street,  with  a  working  library  of  2,000  volumes,  are 
the  possessions  of  the  organization. 

Among  general  societies  and  institutions  are  the  following  :  — 

Young  Men's  Christian  Association.     Organized  1864. 

Old  Men's  Home.     Incorporated  1876. 

Worcester  Children's  Friend  Society.     1848. 

Home  for  Aged  Females,     1869. 

Irish  Catholic  Benevolent  Society.     1863. 

Worcester  Natural  History  Society.  Founded  as  the  Young  Men's 
Library  Association,  1852. 

Woicester  Employment  Society.     1875. 

Worcester  Firemen's  Relief  Association.      1874. 

Worcester  Agricultural  Society.  1817.  Owns  a  fair  ground  of 
25  acres  in  west  part  of  the  city. 

Worcester  Art  Society.     1877.     Holds  monthly  meetings. 

Art  Students'  Club.     1880. 

Grand  Army  of  the  Republic.    1867.    (Geo.  H.  Ward  Post,  No.  10) . 

Patrons  of  Husbandry.      (Worcester  Grange,  No.  22).     1873. 

Citizens'  Law  and  Order  League.     1883. 

Worcester  District  Medical  Society.     Organized  1804. 

Worcester  Congregational  Club.     1874. 

Worcester  County  Musical  Association.  Holding  annual  festivals 
in  September  of  each  year. 

Worcester  County  Free  Institute  of  Industrial  Science.     1868. 

College  of  the  Holy  Cross.     1843. 

Massachusetts  State  Normal  School.     1871. 

Worcester  Academy.     1835. 

Highland  Military  Academy.     1857. 

INDUSTRIAL   NOTES. 

In  the  early  day,  the  town  and  village  of  Worcester  presented  the 
usual  business  and  trade  aspects  of  New  England  inland  life,  sharing 
the  common  allotment  both  in  kind  and  number  of  the  village  trades 
and  crafts.  But  in  the  earliest  period  of  all,  at  the  very  foundation 
of  the  settlement,  recognition  was  duly  paid  to  the  establishment  of 
mechanical  industries,  as  references  on  other  and  various  pages  of 
this  volume  attest.  This  whole  region  of  central  Massachusetts  was 
full  of  the  domestic  industries  of  wheel  and  loom.  Then  came  the 
factory  system,  when,  as  remarks  a  homely  writer : 

"The  great  wheel  with  its  wonderful  new  head,  the  wheel  piu,  the  little 


WORCESTER   OF   TO-DAY.  .  145 

wheel,  the  distafl',  the  quill  and  quill  wheel,  the  clock  reel,  the  swifts  aud 
hatchel,  coarse  and  fine  cards  for  tow  and  cotton,  the  spools  aud  wurplng- 
bars,  reeds  and  harness,  looms  and  their  appeuda^es  were  sent  to  the  attics 
or  left  to  destruction  in  the  households.  The  exhilarating  buzz  of  the  little 
spinning  wheels,  the  peculiar  whirr  of  the  large  wheels  and  the  click  of  the 
loom  were  lost  in  the  farmhouses." 

One  of  the  earliest  considerable  manufacturing  enterprises  in 
Worcester  was  doubtless  the  association  formed  in  1780  for  the 
purpose  of  spinning  aud  weaving  cotton.  The  first  piece  of  corduroy 
was  taken  from  the  loom  in  April  of  that  year.  The  factory  stood  ou 
Mill  Brook  near  where  now  is  the  intersection  of  School  and  Union 
Streets,  where,  in  1790,  Samuel  Brazer  was  still  making  corduroy 
aud  "federal  rib."  At  what  is  now  Quinsigamoud,  Isaiah  Thomas, 
in  1794,  erected  a  paper-mill,  later  owned  by  Gardner  Burbank, 
and  which  as  late  as  1834  was  the  Quinsigamoud  Paper  Company, 
near  what  is  now  the  Quinsigamond  Wire  Mills  of  the  Washburn 
&  Moen  Manufacturing  Company.  In  1804  Peter  and  Ebenezer 
Stowell  were  weaving  carpets  and  plaids  here,  and  at  one  time  had 
six  looms  of  their  own  invention  and  manufacture  in  operation. 
Abel  Stowell  was  celebrated  as  a  maker  of  clocks  at  the  close  of  the 
last  and  opening  of  the  present  century.  The  town  clock  of  the 
Old  South  Church,  which  did  duty  until  a  few  years  ago,  was  made 
by  him  in  1800.  There  are  in  this  vicinity  several  house  clocks  made 
by  him  still  in  use  in  families  that  greatly  treasure  them  as  heir- 
looms. There  was  in  1812  a  small  paper  manufactory  ou  the  site 
of  what  was  later  the  old  Court  Mills,  on  Lincoln  Square.  lu  the 
same  year  there  was  a  factory  for  spinning  cotton  yarn  and  a  fulling 
mill,  by  one  Hale  ;  aud  Moses  Clement  set  up  a  trip-hammer  near 
where  Coes's  shop  now  is.  All  these  last  named  were  in  what  was 
known  as  Trowbiidgeville,  until  in  the  year  1812,  there  was  a  joyous 
gathering  which  assembled  at  a  flag  raising  aud  formally  named 
the  precinct  New  Worcester,  aud  "  made  a  night  of  it"  at  Stearns' 
Tavern.  At  this  time  there  was  a  grist-mill  at  the  Old  Red  Mill, 
near  where  uow  stands  Crompton's  Loom  Works.  From  this  time, 
until  1828,  there  was  no  particular  growth  to  Worcester  industries. 

The  especial  impetus  of  1828  came  in  the  opening  of  the  Blackstone 
Canal,  making  Worcester  more  than  ever  before  a  central  point  of 
trade,  bringing  heavy  freights  from  the  seaboard  cheaply  into  the 
heart  of  the  State,  and  opening  an  outlet  never  before  offered  for 
lumber,  wooden  ware  and*  farm  products.  Stores  aud  warehouses 
sprung  up  about  the  new  canal  basin  in  Worcester. 


146  BI-CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

If  the  canal  brought  no  greater  advantage  to  Worcester,  it  brought 
one  result,  neither  counted  on,  nor  coveted  by  its  projectors,  the 
Boston  and  Worcester  Railroad,  whose  construction  was  forced  by  the 
unwillingness  of  Boston  to  lose  the  business  of  this  section.  The 
railroad  was  opened  in  1835  ;  but  by  that  time  there  were  already 
exhibited  tokens  of  Worcester's  destiny  as  an  industriarceutre. 

In  1886  there  were  in  Worcester  two  mills  for  the  manufacture  of 
broadcloths,  six  for  satinets,  one  for  cotton  sheeting  and  shirting, 
two  for  satinet  warps,  one  for  pelisse  wadding,  two  paper-mills, 
seven  machinery  works,  a  wire  mill,  an  iron  foundry,  several 
manufactories  of  sashes  and  blinds,  one  lead  pipe  works,  paper 
hangings,  cabinet  furniture,  chairs,  brushes,  trunks  and  harnesses, 
ploughs,  hats,  shoes,  watches,  umbrellas,  cutlery,  piano-fortes, 
and  wagons. 

Of  this  brisk  growth  of  183G  it  is  recorded,  that  "  three  hundred 
buildings  were  erected  in  this  town  within  the  last  two  years." 
There  were  ninety  stores  and  warehouses,  twenty  cotton,  woollen  and 
paper-mills,  employing  over  1500  workmen.  It  was  in  this  year  that 
William  Lincoln  brought  out  his  History  of  Worcester.  In  his 
fidelity  to  his  theme  he  attempted  a  formal  and  careful  compilation 
of  the  facts  of  Worcester  industries.  A  note  at  the  end  of  his 
volume  is  worth  giving,  both  as  showing  the  result  of  his  attempt  in 
this  direction,  and  as  a  statement  of  experiences  apt  to  be  repro- 
duced whenever  such  essays  are  made  : — 

"A  statement  of  the  conditiou  of  the  manufactures  and  mechanic  industry 
of  any  town  exhibiting  the  aggregate  amount  of  capital  invested,  the  number 
of  hands  employed,  the  sums  paid  for  labor,  and  the  annual  quantity  and 
value  of  production  in  each  department  would  be  alike  interesting  and  useful. 
For  the  purpose  of  presenting  this  view  of  the  prosperity  of  Worcester, 
circular  letters  were  distributed  among  those  engaged  in  different  .branches 
of  business,  soliciting  information.  Acknowledgments  are  due  to  several 
gentlemen  who  kindly  furnished  full  answers  to  the  enquiries;  but  unfortu- 
nately some  have  felt  reluctant,  even  for  such  general  purpose,  to  communi- 
cate facts;  and  many  under  the  pressure  of  their  engagements  have  not 
found  time  for  any  reply.  The  results  obtained  were  so  incomplete,  that  in 
forming  an  estimate  of  the  whole  it  would  have  been  necessary  to  substitute 
conjecture  for  certainty  in  filling  up  many  intervals.  As  the  whole  value  of 
such  statistics  depends  upon  that  degree  of  accuracy  which  it  was  impractica- 
ble to  attain,  after  much  labor  and  trouble  bestowed  by  others,  the  compiler 
has  been  reluctantly  compelled  to  leave  the  accompUshment  of  an  object  so 
desirable  to  those  who  may  be  more  fortunate  in  their  efforts  for  obtaining 
materials." 


WORCESTER   OF  TO-DAY.  147 

Amoug  the  large  mass  of  manuscripts  left  unedited  by  the  historian, 
now  carefully  treasured  in  the  collections  of  the  American  Antiqua- 
rian Society,  great  interest  attaches  to  the  incomplete  returns  of 
Mr.  Lincoln's  labors  above  referred  to.  The  following  interesting 
memoranda  are  from  this  source  : — 

WORCESTER  INDUSTRIES  IN  1836. 

In  South  "Worcester  was  the  White  and  Boyden  factory  for  the 
manufacture  of  broadcloths  and  woollen  machinery.  The  factory 
building  was  60  by  30  feet,  four  stories  high,  with  a  machine  shop  60 
by  30  feet,  a  forge  and  trip  hammer  shop  60  by  20,  with  wool  house 
and  dye  house  each  18  by  25  feet.  The  partners  were  Luther  White 
and  Jubal  Boyden.  Fifteen  hands  were  employed,  with  $8,000  value 
of  annual  product.  They  made  420  yards  of  broadcloth  weekly  and 
sold  woollen  machinery  to  amount  of  $6,000  annually. 

At  Northville  Nathaniel  Eaton  &  Co.  made  fine  medium  print 
paper  in  a  mill  40  by  70,  two  stories  high,  owned  by  F.  W.  Paine. 

Print  paper  was  also  made  at  the  Quinsigamond  Mill,  William 
Lincoln,  Charles  Allen  and  Abram  G.  Randall,  proprietors.  Mill 
30  by  50  feet  with  wings  30  by  30.  Made  300  reams  per  week,  with 
four  engines  and  paper  machinery. 

At  the  old  Red  Mill,  broadcloths  were  made  by  W.  B.  Fox  &  Co. 
(William  B.  Fox  and  George  T.  Rice).  Mill  60  by  35,  four  stories, 
75  yards  daily,  average  value  $3.00  per  yard.  Fifty  operatives,  one- 
half  of  them  females.  On  same  premises  the  firm  employed  fifteen 
men  on  sashes,  blinds  and  doors. 

Henry  P.  Howe  employed  eight  hands  in  the  manufacture  of  paper 
driers,  value  of  product  $15,000  annually. 

Satinets  were  made  at  the  Tatnuck  Factory,  1200  to  1500  yards 
per  week  ;  also  at  New  Worcester  by  Luther  Capron  and  Nathan  R. 
Parkhui'st,  as  Capron  &  Parkhurst,  1000  to  1200  yards  per  week; 
also  by  Benjamin  Prentice  &  Co.  (Simeon  Burt,  Rejoice  Newton  and 
Benjamin  Pi'entice),  a  very  fine  quality,  with  best  machinery,  1100 
yards  weekly,  averaging  $1.00  per  yard;  also  at  Pickford  Mill, 
Tatnuck,  by  Billings  Mann  for  Hemenway  &  Pratt,  500  yards  per 
week.  Wadsvrorth  &  Fowler  on  Kettle  Brook,  in  a  factory  three 
stories  high  with  twenty-five  hands  and  three  sets  of  machinery, 
were  making  1500  yards  of  satinet  weekly  of  average  value  of  75 
cents  per  yard.  Satinet  warps  were  made  by  Silas  Eldridge,  5000 
yards  weekly. 


148  BI-CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

Cotton  wadding  was  made  by  Stanley  &  Biivgess,  six  bales  daily, 
value  about  $6.00  per  bale. 

At  the  Court  Mills  on  Lincoln  Square,  105  by  35  feet,  with  an  ell 
of  65  by  40  feet,  three  stories  high  with  attic,  were  various  industries. 
On  lower  floor  Davis  &  Howe  with  twenty-five  hands  manufactured 
$35,000  worth  of  wool  cards  annually.  On  second  floor  Kimball  & 
Fuller  with  twenty  hands  made  $20,000  worth  of  wool  spinning 
machinery  annually.  On  third  floor  Fitzroy  Willard's  loom  shop 
turned  out  $15,000  product  annually  with  fifteen  hands.  The  attic 
was  occupied  by  the  varied  industries  of  a  loom-reed  shop,  horse- 
power machines,  carpenters'  shop,  forge,  pattern-making  and  a  paint 
shop.  The  old  Court  Mills  were  the  cradle  of  many  of  our  best 
industries,  the  nurse  of  some  of  our  best  and  most  successful 
representative  men. 

Goulding's  machine  shop  on  School  Street  (Henry  Goulding), 
employed  forty-eight  men  on  woollen  machinery. 

Albert  Curtis  at  New  Worcester,  in  partnership  with  William 
Heushaw,  with  twenty  hands,  made  woollen  machinery,  value  $25,000 
annually. 

Tolman  &  Hunstable  (Albert  Tolman  and  Samuel  Hunstable), 
occupied  a  building  on  Columbian  Avenue,  now  Exchange  Street, 
40  by  52  feet,  three  stories  high,  for  a  carriage  and  harness  factory, 
employing  twelve  hands,  annual  value  of  product  $20,000. 

Towne,  Harrington  &  Co.,  as  the  Worcester  Cutlery  and  German 
Silver  Factory,  made  $7,000  annual  product  of  bowie  knives,  surgeon's 
instruments,  palmleaf  splitters  and  German  silver  goods.  The  same 
firm  were  making  a  new  machine  for  manufacturing  from  six  to  ten 
bushels  of  shoe  pegs  daily,  with  two  hands,  the  invention  of  one  of 
the  members  of  the  firm. 

William  A.  Wheeler's  foundry  on  Thomas  Street  had  more  than  a 
local  reputation,  employing  twenty-five  men,  with  nearly  700,000 
pounds  of  castings  annually,  value  $o5,000. 

Other  names  are  given  in  Lincoln's  memoranda,  as  Peckham  & 
Almee,  who  made  $25,000  worth  of  broadcloth  annually;  and  Wheeler 
&  Whitcomb,  who  made  1,500  yards  per  week  of  prime  $1.00  satinet ; 
of  Osgood  Bradley,  carriage  builder  and  later  car  builder  ;  and  Benja- 
min Goddard,  carriage  maker  ;  there  was  also  a  screw  mill,  and  Marsh 
&  Liscom,  piano-forte  makers  ;  but  by  all  these,  notes  were  refused  to 
the  historian,  whose  review  of  the  Worcester  manufactures  of  1836, 
therefore,  failed  as  before  stated,  and  is  now  for  the  first  time 
published  in  this  incomplete  form. 


WORCESTER   OF   TO-DAY.  149 

A  note  from  Ichabod  Washburn  in  his  own  hand-writing,  given 
among  these  returns  of  1836,  represents  the  feeling  not  at  all  unusual 
in  the  successful  manufacturer.  To  Mr.  Lincoln's  inquiry  for  statis- 
tics of  the  "Worcester  wire  industry,  since  so  great  in  its  proportions, 
the  founder  of  the  wire  enterprise  here  in  1834  says  : 

"The  manufacture  of  fine  wire  has  been  exceedingly  difficult,  but 
I  have  succeeded  in  making  an  article  equally  as  good  as  the  English  ; 
but  I  have  thought  best  to  decline  answering  most  of  your  questions, 
as  the  present  stage  of  manufacture  has  been  reached  at  great 
expense  .in  way  of  experimenting  and  is  now  paying  a  fair  profit, 
but  will  not  admit  of  competition." 


WORCESTER  INDUSTRIES  IN  1884. 

From  the  above  period  the  industries  of  Worcester  took  a  new  and 
remarkable  growth.  It  has  always  been  true  that  the  stepping-stones 
of  Worcester  mechanical  enterprise  and  ingenuity  have  been  found 
at  the  foremost  line  of  the  world's  advance  in  skill  and  invention, 
and  in  not  a  few  signal  instances  have  first  opened  the  way. 
Probably  no  city  in  the  country  has  so  great  a  variety  of  manufac- 
tures in  proportion  to  its  size  as  Worcester.  The  machinery  used  in 
the  large  factories  of  various  kinds  is  made  here,  and  similar 
machinery,  or  that  adapted  to  special  industries,  is  made  in  shops — 
some  employing  hundreds  of  hands,  and  others  of  lesser  size.  A 
peculiarity  of  the  manufacturing  system  of  Worcester  is  that  it  is 
conducted  in  a  large  degree  by  private  capital,  the  large  corporations 
being  few  in  number.  And  of  even  greater  value  to  the  city  is  the 
fact  that  all  these  enterprises,  large  and  small,  with  scarcely  an 
exception  are  owned  by  residents  of  Worcester.  There  are  several 
companies  organized  under  the  general  laws  of  the  State,  in  which 
the  stock  is  wholly  or  in  great  part  owned  by  those  who  have  an 
active  part  in  the  conduct  of  affairs.  Worcester  offers  special 
facilities  and  advantages  for  mechanics  of  small  means  to  establish 
their  labor  and  prosecute  the  humbler  stages  of  what  in  numerous 
instances  have  grown  to  be  thriving  business  enterprises.  There  are 
numerous  large  shops  where  room  and  power  are  rented  to  any 
extent  desired.  Though  the  water  power  of  this  city  has  been  trebled 
within  the  past  two  generations  by  reservoirs,  steam  has  largely 
displaced  it,  and  less  than  twenty  per  cent,  of  our  Worcester  indus- 
tries depend  solely  on  water  power  and  do  not  employ  steam. 


150  BI-CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

Many  years  ago  Hon.  George  S.  Boutwell  in  a  cattle-show  address 
found  cause  to  speak  of  the  Worcester  of  that  time  as  "combining 
more  advantages  for  successful  business  than  most  places  in  the 
State,  among  these  the  variety  of  employment  which  prevents  any 
entire  overthrow  of  business  in  years  of  depression." 

This  fact  will  be  strikingly  shown  by  the  following  review  of 
present  Worcester  industries,  which  has  been  prepared  for  these 
pages.  It  can  do  little  more  than  illustrate  this  great  variety,  for 
it  is  not  in  the  nature  of  compilations  of  this  kind  to  be  complete 
and  satisfactory — few  manufacturers  desiring  to  supply  the*  statistics 
of  their  business,  even  for  such  record.  Nevertheless,  much  of  the 
history  of  Worcester  is  given  or  suggested  in  this  enumeration. 

Agricultural  Machinery. 
Corn  Shellers  and  various  farm  implements  were  made  by  different 
parties  in  Worcester  at  early  periods  in  this  century,  but  the  largest 
enterprise  in  this  branch  of  manufacture,  which  stood  among  the 
foremost  in  its  class  and  its  scale  in  the  country  at  large,  began  with 
the  establishment  of  Ruggles,  Nourse  and  Mason  (Draper  Ruggles, 
Joel  Nourse  and  John  C.  Mason),  of  their  plow  factory  in  1836,  in 
Lincoln  Square,  on  the  site  of  the  old  blacksmith  shop  of  Col. 
Timothy  Bigelow  of  Revolutionary  fame.  The  firm  included  invent- 
ors and  perfecters  as  well  as  projectors  of  a  business  immense  in  its 
period.  From  the  manufacture  of  one  hundred  plows  a  year  they 
developed  in  twenty  years  an  annual  product  of  30,000  plows  of 
one  hundred  and  fifty  different  forms.  The  successors  of  this  firm 
are  still  making  a  large  product  of  agricultural  machinery  and  farming 
tools  in  this  city.  Another  large  manufacturing  establishment  has 
been  in  operation  for  several  years,  with  a  large  business  in  Buckeye 
Mowers,   Hay  Tedders,   Manure   Spreaders   and   a  variety  of  other 

farm  machinery. 

Artist  Plates. 

An  establishment  went  into  operation  in  1855  for  the  manufacture 

of   plates   for  ferrotypes,   also   sign    plates   and   the   patent  maroon 

plate,   also  wood  and  metal  panels  for  artists'   use.     The  product 

comprises  nearly  the  whole    amount  of   such   goods  in    use   in  this 

country. 

Art  Publishing. 

A  large  industry  originally  growing  out  of  the  manufacture  of 
Valentines  now  includes  a  complete  line  of  Holiday  and  Gift  Cards. 
One  hundred  and  twenty-five  operatives. 


WORCESTER   OF   TO-DAY.  151 

Awls 
Are  made    at    three    establishments    separately    and    elsewhere    in 
connection   with  other  lines,   in  every  variety  for    shoemakers   and 
for  general  use. 

Brass,  Bronze  Metal,  &c.     ' 
Three    establishments,    brass     foundries    and    manufacturers    of 
specialties  in  metal  bearings. 

Band  Instruments. 
One  manufactory  of  brass  band  instruments. 

Bale  Ties. 
Witli   the   substitution  of  Bessemer  steel  for  iron   in   wire   manu- 
facture the  use  of  bale  ties  of  steel  wire  has  grown  to  large  propor- 
tions, and  is  a  leading  wire  mill  specialty  here. 

Barb  Wire  Fencing. 
The  employment  of  iron  and  steel  wire  for  fence  purposes  is 
many  years  old,  but  its  use  as  fence  material  received  a  ugw  impetus 
from  the  invention  of  the  sharply  pricking  barb  in  1876.  Worcester 
has  been  made  the  chief  seat  of  Barb  Wire  Fence  manufacture, 
both  by  amount  of  material  produced,  and  the  fact  that  this  entire 
patent  interest  is  chiefly  owned  and  controlled  here.  The  manufac- 
ture from  forty  to  sixty  miles  daily  of  barb  wire  fencing  of  various 
kinds  is  one  of  the  specialties  of  one  of  our  wire  mills,  where  also 
the  principal  machines  for  making  barb  wire  fencing  are  owned  and 
controlled. 

Boots  and  Shoes. 

Though  not  the  largest  of  the  shoe  manufacturing  centres  of  this 
country,  Worcester  products  in  this  line  are  not  only  large  in  amount, 
but  hold  a  foremost  place  in  quality,  meeting  the  especial  demand  of 
the  northern  belt  of  trade.  There  are  now  fourteen  establishments 
giving  employment  to  eighteen  hundred  hands  and  representing  in 
annual  product  over  six  millions  of  dollars.  All  lines  are  manu- 
factured, though  until  a  few  seasons  ago  the  heavier  stock  had  the 
predominance.  The  changes  since  that  time  have  been  the  introduc- 
tion of  advanced  machinery  for  finer  work,  some  of  which  cannot  be 
surpassed  in  the  trade. 

Breweries. 

Though  one  of  oui'  minor  industries  and  only  recently  undertaken 
on  its  present  scale,  the  two  establishments,  both  of  which  have  gone 


152  BI-CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

into  operation    the  past   season,   have  a  capacity  of   four  hundred 
barrels  of  ale  and  porter  per  week. 

Bronzing  Machines. 

A  large  machine  attachment  to  printing  presses  and  wherever 
bronze  is  to  be  applied,  is  manufactured  in  this  city  and  finding  good 
introduction. 

Brushes. 

All  varieties  manufactured,  the  industry  represented  in  two  estab- 
lishments. 

Building  Cojstracts. 

In  addition  to  notes  elsewhere  in  the  general  line  of  building 
supplies  fsee  Lumber  Manufacture),  a  Worcester  firm,  commencing 
operations  in  1869,  have  extended  their  business  until  they  now  stand 
in  the  foremost  rank  in  the  United  States  as  building  contractors. 
Their  contracts  cover  from  two  to  three  million  dollars  in  value 
annually,  for  structures  generally  of  a  public  character,  and  of  the 
best  construction.  One  of  their  contracts  now  under  way  amounts  to 
two  and  a  quarter  million  dollars  ($2,250,000),  the  Allegheny  County 
Court  House  and  Jail,  at  Pittsburg,  Pa.  Among  their  recent  more 
notable  undertakings  were  the  Union  Theological  Seminary,  at  New 
York  ($300,000)  ;  Lawrenceville  Academy,  New  Jersey  ($325,000)  ; 
Library  Building,  University  of  Vermont  ($100,000)  ;  Memorial 
Building,  Maiden,  Mass.  ($100,000)  ;  Jefferson  Physical  Laboratory, 
Harvard  College ;  Spiritual  Temple,  Boston ;  the  City  Hall  at 
Albany,  N.  Y.  ;  St.  James  Episcopal  Church,  New  York  city.  The 
firm  are  their  own  executors  of  their  contracts  throughout,  sub-letting 
no  part  of  their  work  except  plumbing.  They  own  and  work  the 
quarries  from  which  their  brownstone  and  granite  are  taken.  Their 
lumber-mill  and  general  offices  are  in  this  city. 

Cabinet  Work. 

Aside  from  the  departments  of  house  furnishing,  among  several  of 
which  joiner  work  is  carried  to  a  high  degree  of  excellence,  there  are 
five  establishments  for  the  highest  grade  of  cabinet  manufacture, 
some  of  which  is  unsurpassed  in  this  country.. 

Carders'  Tools. 

All  varieties  of  carders'  tools  and  card  grinders,  with  several  strong 
specialties,  are  made  at  two  establishments. 


WORCESTER   OF  TO-DAY.  153 

Cards. 

This  region  is  the  original  seat  of  the  card  industry.  Hand  cards 
were  made  in  Leicester  as  early  as  1785  by  Edmund  Snow,  but  to 
the  ingenuity  of  Pliny  Earle  of  the  same  town  the  great  advance  of 
the  manufacture  by  machines  is  chiefly  due.  "Whitney's  History  in 
1793  says:  "fifteen  or  twenty  men,  exclusive  of  women  and  chil- 
dren," were  at  that  time  employed  at  Leicester  in  the  business  of 
sticking  wire  cards,  and  from  12,000  to  15,000  pairs  of  cards  were 
made  annually.  William  Stowell  and  Daniel  Denny  commenced 
making  cards  in  Worcester  about  1798.  At  that  time  English  cards 
held  the  market.  The  card  industry  was  a  strong  stimulant  to  the 
establishment  of  the  wire  manufacture  here.  Davis  &  Howe  were 
making  wool  cards  in  the  lower  story  of  the  old  Court  Mills  in  1835, 
employing  twenty-five  hands,  with  a  business  of  $35,000  per  annum. 
"Worcester  and  Leicester  still  remain  the  chief  seat  of  the  card  manu- 
facture in  this  country.  Out  of  1,300  card  setting  machines  in 
operation  in  the  United  States  more  than  one-fourth  are  in  "Worcester. 
There  are  four  establishments  engaged  in  the  business. 

Carpets. 

The  manufacture  of  Brussels  carpets  began  in  "Worcester  in  1870, 
and  carpet  yarns  began  at  the  same  time  to  be  manufactured  as  a 
tributary  industry.  At  present  the  two  "Worcester  carpet  manufacto- 
ries are  running  an  aggregate  of  eighty-six  looms  of  the  Crompton 
and  Crossley  patterns,  with  an  average  production  of  1,000  yards  per 
month  to  each  machine,  an  aggregate  of  one  million  yards  annually 
of  the  best  grades  of  Brussels  and  "Wilton,  employing  four  hundred 
operatives.  Within  the  past  year  these  mills  have  been  increased  in 
capacity  from  forty  to  fifty  per  cent.  Carpets  on  "United  States 
government  contracts  and  for  the  Pullman  Car  Company  are  made 
here  in  large  amounts.     (See  Worsted  Spinning.) 

Carriages. 

Formerly  a  prominent  industry.  Lincoln's  unpublished  notes 
show  in  1836,  three  carriage  manufactories  in  existence  here,  one  of 
them,  Tolman  &  Hunstable,  doing  a  business  of  $15,000  annually. 
Osgood  Bradley  was  making  coaches  and  large  carriages  until  he 
began  car-building.  Both  these  are  still  carried  on  by  their 
successors,  but  under  a  modified  form  from  the  changes  in  the 
12 


154:  BI-CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

carriage  trade  which  has  all  over  the  country  done  away  with  the 
smaller  shops.  The  present  business  shows  no  large  figure  beyond 
the  work  of  carriage  repairing.  At  one  "Worcester  establishment  the 
specialty  of  hearses  has  been  prominent  for  some  years. 

Carriage  Wood  "Work. 
Made  in  extensive  variety  at  two  establishments. 
Car  "Wheels  (S^e  Steel  Works). 

CHEMrCALS. 

An  establishment  for  the  manufacture  of  copperas  and  Venetian 
red  from  the  spent  acids  of  the  wire  factories  went  into  operation  on 
a  moderate  scale  in  1877.  Its  progress  may  be  shown  by  the  compari- 
son of  its  first  year's  product  with  that  of  the  last  two  seasons.  In 
1877  were  made  one  and  a  quarter  million  pounds  of  copperas.  In 
the  year  ending  August,  1883,  were  made  two  and  a  quarter  million 
pounds  of  copperas  and  half  a  million  pounds  of  Venetian  red  ;  in 
the  year  just  closed  four  million  pounds  of  Venetian  red  and  three 
million  pounds  of  copperas. 

Clothes  Dryers. 
Two  establishments  for  the  manufacture  of  clothes  dryers  ;  of  con- 
siderable repute  in  the  trade. 

CoATEs'  Clippers. 

Established  1877  for  the  manufacture  of  patent  machine  clippers  for 
barbers'  and  stable  use.  Capacity  of  works  doubled  within  present 
year.  The  same  establishment  also  manufacture  a  new  combination 
tool  of  great  merit. 

Coffee  Machinery. 

One  of  our  wood-working  machinery  establishments  in  South 
Worcester  is  the  sole  place  of  manufacture,  in  the  United  States,  of 
coffee  machinery,  now  everywhere  superseding  the  English  machines 
for  separating,  polishing  and  classifying  the  coffee  berry,  on  the  plan- 
tations where  it  is  grown.  The  business  has  grown  steadily  since 
1877. 

Confectionery. 

There  are  two  establishments  for  the  manufacture  of  confectionery 
for  the  trade,  their  products,  chiefly  in  staple  lines,  reaching  $100,000 


WORCESTER   OF    TO-DAY.  155 

value   of  annual   product   and   giving  employment  to  fifteen  hands. 
The  business  began  in  this  city  in  1864. 

Copper  Wire. 

Within  the  past  year  one  of  our  wire  establishments,  longest 
engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  iron  and  steel  telegraph  and  telephone 
wire,  has  entered  largely  into  the  manufacture  of  all  varieties  of 
hand-drawn  and  soft  copper  wire  for  electric  purposes. 

Copying  Presses. 

An  establishment  for  the  manufacture  of  patent  copying  presses, 
also  for  the  manufacture  of  patent  di-ills  and  Taft's  patent  shears. 

Corsets. 

The  manufacture  commenced  in  Worcester  soon  after  1861,  and 
the  era  of  war  prices  and  a  high  rate  for  gold.  There  are  now  two 
establishments,  employing  altogether  one  thousand  hands,  the  larger 
number  being  females,  and  turning  out  from  $600,000  to  $1,000,000 
in  annual  product.     The  grade  of  goods  is  of  excellent  character. 

Cotton  Thrrad. 

Two  establishments  for  the  manufacture  of  all  varieties  of  cotton 
thread,  employing  on  improved  machinery  about  one  hundred  hands. 

Cutting  Dies. 

Growing  out  of  the  demands  of  the  envelope  and  boot  and  shoe 
industries,  and  other  lines  in  which  cutting  dies  are  employed,  the 
manufacture  of  these  implements  began  in  1860,  and  now  occupies 
two  concerns,  employing  aii  aggregate  of  twenty  hands,  making  all 
varieties  of  dies  known  to  the  lines  of  trade  in  which  they  are  used. 

Drain  Tiles. 

Three  establishments,  employing  from  twenty  to  twenty-five  men  in 
the  manufacture  of  cement  drain  tile. 

Drills  (See  MacJiine  Tools). 

Emery  Wheels. 

Patent  emery  and  corundum  wheels  are  made  here  by  the  inventor 
and  patentee. 


156  BI-CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

Elevators. 

Two  varieties  of  elevators  are  made  here :  the  hydraulic  elevator, 
and  a  telescopic  variety  of  the  same. 

Envelopes. 

The  manufacture  of  envelopes  in  this  city  began  with  the  invention 
of  an  envelope  folding  machine  by  Dr.  Russell  Hawes  in  1846,  the 
establishment  founded  by  him  being  still  in  existence.  The  advanced 
perfection  of  this  kind  of  machinery  has  been  chiefly  realized  by 
Worcester  genius  ;  the  best  envelope  machine  now  in  use  having 
been  invented  here  in  1871.  Tliis  city  is  now  the  largest  point  of 
manufacture  of  staple  envelopes.  There  are  three  envelope  factories 
with  a  daily  production  of  three  million  envelopes,  annual  value  one 
million  dollars.  Three  hundred  and  fifty  hands  are  employed,  chiefly 
females.  Envelope  machinery  manufactured  at  one  of  these  estab- 
lishments has  been  sent  abroad,  though  for  obvious  reasons  there  is 
little  desire  or  willingness  to  fit  up  competing  establishments  in  this 
country. 

Files. 

Three  establishments  for  the  manufacture  of  all  varieties  of  files, 
though  the  industry  is  of  no  extended  character. 

Finger  Nail  Cutters. 

A  Worcester  novelty  of  sufficiently  wide  repute  in  the  trade  to  give 
employment  to  a  busy  enterprise. 

Fire  Arms.  ^ 

One  of  our  oldest  established  industries,  which  in  the  important 
branch  of  pistol  manufacture,  began  with  the  enterprise  of  Allen  & 
Thurber,  and  all  varieties  of  fire  arms  except  cannon  have  been 
brought  out  in  our  Worcester  shops.  There  are  now  four  establish- 
ments producing  rifles,  shot  guns,  carbines  and  revolvers  for  military 
and  sporting  purposes,  and  several  of  these  are  widely  famous 
throughout  the  world.  The  industry  gives  employment  in  Worcester 
to  three  hundred  and  fifty  workmen  of  a  highly  skilled  class,  with  an 
annual  product  of  $600,000. 

Folding  Chairs. 

At  the  close  of  the  war  a  large  manufacturer  of  camp  chairs  in  this 
city,  by  successive  patented  improvements  advanced  the  article  of 


WORCESTER  OF  TO-DAY.  157 

furniture  to  the  folding  chair  with  such  success  that  one  hundred  and 
twenty-five  men  are  employed  in  its  manufacture,  with  annual  sales 
amounting  to  three  hundred  thousand  dollars. 

Indestructible  Soles 

On  the  Goodrich  patent  are  made  by  one  establishment,  an  incor- 
poration of  metal  with  the  outer  sole  of  heavy  goods. 

Iron  Manufacture. 

In  connection  with  our  largest  wire  mill,  iron  is  manufactured  for 
wire  billets,  and  Swedish  iron,  by  Swedish  workmen  and  Swedish 
processes  for  the  best  descriptions  of  iron  wire. 

Iron  Foundries. 

Worcester  has  long  been  celebrated  for  its  foundry  business.  In 
1833  one  Worcester  establishment,  still  in  the  hands  of  its  successors, 
was  employing  from  twenty-two  to  twenty-five  men,  producing  nearly 
700,000  pounds  of  iron  castings,  of  a  value  of  $35,000.  For  its 
earlier  power  horses  were  resorted  to,  until  the  introduction  of  the 
steam  engine.  The  first  stationary  steam  engine  set  up  in  this  State 
west  of  Boston,  was  put  in  use  in  this  foundry  (W.  A.  Wheeler's). 

Iron  Lasts. 

The  manufacture  of  iron  lasts  began  here  in  1879.  There  are  now 
two  establishments  giving  employment  to  twenty  hands. 

Lasts. 

The  manufacture  of  lasts  began  here  in  1855.  Two  establishments 
produce  $125,000  in  value,  the  material  used  being  rock  maple  from 
the  forests  of  northern  New  England. 

Leather  Bleach 
For  bleaching  the  bottoms  of  boots  and  shoes,  one  manufactory. 

Leather  Belting. 

Three  establishments.  The  oldest  founded  in  1852,  using  only 
leather  from  its  own  large  tannery  in  this  city,  one  of  the  largest  in 
this  State.  In  the  three  concerns  one  hundred  men  are  employed. 
Total  value  of  product  $500,000. 


158  BI-CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

Lkather  Machinery. 

One  establishment  manufactures  ten  different  machines  for  leather 
work,  employs  twenty-five  men  ;  annual  product  S50,000. 

Looms. 

The  first  loom  factory  ever  erected  for  the  manufacture  of  power 
looms  in  this  country,  went  into  operation  in  Worcester,  on  the  same 
premises  with  our  first  wire  mill,  in  1834.  The  power  loom  industry 
of  Worcester  is  now  represented  by  three  establishments,  with  an 
annual  product  of  $2,500,000,  and  the  employment  of  eight  hundred 
hands.  Worcester  looms  are  known  throughout  the  world.  It  is 
one  of  our  oldest  industries.  In  1804  the  Stowell  Brothers  had  in 
operation  six  looms  of  their  own  invention  and  manufacture  for 
weaving  carpets  and  plaids.  The  elder  Cromptou  after  he  began  the 
manufacture  of  fancy  looms  in  Worcester,  not  only  sold  the  machines 
but  as  an  expert  weaver  went  about  giving  instruction  in  their  use. 

Machine  Knives  (See  Wrenches). 

Machine  Screws. 

Three  establishments.  Two  of  them  on  an  extensive  scale  manu- 
facture machine  screws.  With  one  of  these,  case-hardened  nuts  are  a 
specialty. 

Machine  Tools. 

There  are  now  fifteen  establishments  for  the  manufacture  of  all 
varieties  of  metal-working  machinery,  a  department  of  industry  in 
which  Worcester  is  now  the  second  city  in  the  United  States,  Phila- 
delphia alone  leading.  The  product  from  the  heaviest  machinery  to 
the  lightest  has  an  annual  value  of  $1,500,000,  and  gives  employ- 
ment to  eight  .hundred  and  fifty  men.  Our  shops  are  the  favorite 
resort  for  experimental  machinery  sought  by  inventors.  The  manu- 
facture of  machinery  began  at  a  very  early  period  in  the  history  of 
our  local  industries,  but  has  grown  most  rapidly  since  the  adoption 
of  steam  power.  (For  machinery  applicable  to  specialties  of  manu- 
facture see  under  separate  heads).  Of  the  machine  tools  made  in 
Worcester,  over  one-half  the  product  is  sold  through  commission 
houses  in  the  larger  centres. 

Malleable  Iron. 

Two  establishments,  employing  a  total  of  one  hundred  and  seventy- 
five  men,  with  an  annual  product  of  $200,000. value,  contributing  to 


WORCESTER   OF   TO-DAY.  159 

a  wide  variety  of  manufactures.  The  older  of  these  concerns  has 
been  in  operation  almost  from  the  first  employment  of  this  line  of 
iron  work. 

Marble  Works. 
There  are  three  principal  and  several  smaller  establishments  for  all 
varieties  of  marble  and  ornamental  and  monumental  stone  cutting, 
employing  in  all  nearly  one  hundred  workmen. 

•  Metal  Punching. 

In  addition  to  what  is  found  as  the  adjunct  of  some  of  the  larger 
shops,  all  varieties  of  metal  punching  are  carried  on  in  two  very 
complete  establishments. 

Nickel  Plating. 
Three   exclusive   establishments,   and    two  others    connected   with 
other  manufactures,  turn  out  a  large  amount  of  nickel  plated  goods. 

Organs. 

A  prominent  industry.  There  are  five  establishments,  giving 
employment  to  five  hundred  operatives,  producing  6,000  organs 
annually,  of  an  aggregate  value  of  $400,000.  These  instruments  of 
Worcester  manufacture  have  a  very  wide  reputation  and  are  sent  to 
all  parts  of  the  world.  Organettes  are  also  made  at  two  establish- 
ments. 

Organ  Reeds. 

This  city  has  become  a  principal  point  of  manufacture,  the  business 
being  carried  on  in  three  large  establishments,  employing  three 
hundred  and  fifty  hands,  with  a  total  annual  product  amounting  to 
$600,000.     This  business  began  here  in  1859. 

Paper  Machinery. 
The  first  paper  machinery  made  in  Worcester  was  built  by  Howe  & 
Goddard  in  1838,  in  the  basement  of  the  old  Red  Mill,  a  fire  drying 
machine,  a  large  cylinder  with  a  stove  in  the  centre,  the  invention  of 
Henry  P.  Howe.  The  same  firm  also  built  cylinder  and  Fourdrinier 
machines.  This  business,  now  in  the  hands  of  the  immediate 
successors  of  the  first  named  firm,  is  now  a  prosperous  one,  and  the 
best  paper-mills  in  the  United  States  are  supplied  largely  from  this 
Worcester  establishment,  among  whose  leading  specialties  is  paper 
machinery. 


160  BI-CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

Perforated  Metals 
Are  made  at  one  establishment. 

Presses. 
An  extensive  establishment  for  the  manufacture  of  Patent  Knuckle 
Joint  Presses  in  one  hundi'ed  varieties,  for  hand  and  power.     Annual 
value  of  product  $40,000.     At   two  other  large  establishments  are 
made  various  kinds  of  power  presses. 

Railway  Cars. 
A  Worcester  coach  and  carriage  manufactory  became  one  of  the 
pioneer  railway  car  shops  in  this  country,  at  so  early  a  period  that 
the  earliest  cars  brought  out  were  hauled  to  Boston  over  the  turnpike 
in  1833.  The  first  cars  built  here  were  after  foreign  patterns.  Some 
of  the  earliest  improvements,  constituting  the  American  features  of 
car  construction,  were  brought  out  in  Worcester.  Present  capacity 
of  the  shops,  six  passenger  cars  per  mouth  and  two  freight  cars  a  day. 

Razors. 
From  a  very  modest  beginning  the  enterprise  of  making  razors  and 
razor  strops,  now  a  widely  famous  Worcester  specialty,   has  grown 
to  the  full  occupancy  of  a  large  factory  building.     Forty  hands  are 
employed  on  razors  and  sixty  on  razor  strops. 

Refrigerators  . 
Since  1865  there  has  been  in  successful  operation  an  establishment 
for  the  manufacture  of  all  classes  of  refrigerators,  of  which  from 
eight  hundred  to  one  thousand  are  made  annually. 

Reeds  and  Harness. 

Made  at  two  establishments. 

Railroad  Frogs  and  Switches.  , 
One  manufactory. 

Satinets. 
By  reference  to  notes  already  given  of  earlier  epochs  of  manufac- 
ture, it  will  be  seen  that  satinets  were  early  made  here,  as  filling  a 
demand  for  cheap  fabrics.     There  are  now  five  establishments  with  a 
product  of  five  thousand  yards  weekly. 

Skates. 
One  concern  exclusively  employed  on  ice  and  roller  skates  employs 
two  hundred  hands,  and  has  an  annual  production  of  $300,000  value. 


WORCESTER   OF   TO-DAY.  161 

It  began  on  a  small  scale  in  1872,  and  is  now  in  the  foremost  rank  of 
the  roller  skate  industry  in  this  country.  Ice  and  roller  skates  are 
also  made  by  contract  in  other  establishments,  but  to  no  figure 
comparing  with  the  above. 

Slippers. 

There  are  two  establishments  for  the  manufacture  of  slippers 
exclusively;  web  and  carpet  slippers,  and  buck  slippers  are  made, 
also  heel  protectors  and  bound  cork  soles. 

Soaps. 

Though  not  one  of  our  larger  industries,  one  establishment  founded 
in  1878  has  built  up  a  large  business  in  its  toilet  soaps,  and  has 
doubled  its  capacity  within  the  present  year. 

Steam  Boilers. 

There  are  three  establishments  for  the  manufacture  of  boilers. 
One  of  these  is  widely  known  and  its  product  is  sent  to  all  parts  of 
the    country    and    to    foreign    lauds.      The   total    annual   product  is 

$500,000. 

Steam  Engines. 

Four  establishments,  and  their  product  is  of  wide  repute.  A  steam 
engine  of  "Worcester  manufacture  received  the  grand  prize  at  the 
Paris  Exposition  of  1878.  Though  not  in  its  aggregate  among  our 
leading  industries  the  annual  value  of  the  total  product  is  from 
$250,000  to  $300,000. 

Steel. 

One  of  the  oldest  and  most  widely  known  establishments  in 
"Worcester,  originally  founded  in  1H48  for  the  manufacture  of  patent 
car  wheels,  and  later  known  in  connection  with  the  same  industry  as 
a  rail  mill,  first  for  re  rolling,  and  since  1882  for  rolling  imported 
steel  blooms;  in  1884  put  in  two  four-ton  Bessemer  converters  with 
blooming  train  and  blowing  engines,  making  their  own  ingots 
from  English  West  Coast  Bessemer  Iron,  and  manufacturing  rails, 
billets,  rods,  nail  plates,  brake  beams,  and  also  steel  blooms  and 
billets  for  the  trade.  The  converter  capacity  is  two  hundred  tons 
every  twenty-four  hours.  The  manufacturing  premises  immediately 
adjoin  the  largest  railway  freight  yard  in  this  city.  Three  hundred 
men  employed. 


162  BI-CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

Tacks  and  Staples. 
A  manufactaring  establishment  has  gone  into  operation  the  present 
year  for  the  manufacture  of  all  varieties  of  double  pointed  tacks  and 
staples  from  flat  steel  wire. 

Tape  and  Elastics. 

The  manufacture  began  in  Worcester  about  1875  with  the  business 
of  spool  tapes,  since  extended  until  it  covers  every  variety  of  narrow 
loom  webs,  elastic  frills,  non-elastic  webs,  spool  tapes  ;  the  goods  of 
high  grade  in  both  silk  and  cotton.  This  establishment  is  now 
running  sixty  of  the  Knowles  Narrow  Fabric  Looms.  • 

Telegraph  and  Telephone  Wire. 

Worcester  wire  industry  was  resorted  to  at  the  very  outset  of  the 
telegraph  enterprise  in  this  country,  and  Worcester  iron  telegraph 
wire  supplied  the  equipment  of  some  of  the  earliest  successful  lines  of 
telegraph  in  the  United  States.  'The  annual  product  of  galvanized 
iron  and  steel  telegraph  and  telephone  wire  is  now  very  large,  the 
product  being  sent  to  all  parts  of  the  world. 

Turbine   Wheels. 

Within  the  past  two  seasons,  the  extensive  plant  being  yet 
incomplete,  there  has  been  established  here  one  of  the  largest 
manufactories  in  the  country  for  turbine  wheels  and  mill  machinery. 
One  hundred  and  seventy-five  men  employed. 

Twisting  Machinery 

Of  an  entirely  novel  construction,  first  brought  out  by  the  inventor 
here,  gives  employment  to  twenty-five  hands  on  machinery  for  the 
manufacture  and  twisting  of  all  kinds  of  lines,  twine  and  cordage. 

Type  Writers. 

The  manufacture  of  type  writers  has  been  entered  upon  at  one  of  our 
large  manufacturing  establishments  within  the  past  twelve  months. 

Wood-Working  Machinery. 

This  region  was  early  a  location  for  saw  mills,  the  first  improve- 
ment of  water  power  being  for  that  purpose.     Capt.   Wing's  saw- 


WORCESTEK   OF   TO-DAY.  163 

mill  on  Mill  Brook  a  little  north  of  what  is  now  Lincoln  Square. 
Though  circular  saws  were  said  to  have  been  known  in  Holland 
many  years  before,  they  did  not  come  into  use  in  England  until  1777. 
It  is  claimed  confidently  that  the  circular  saw  was  first  used  in  this 
country  in  Worcester  County  for  the  manufacture  of  lumber,  and 
Lewis  Brown  is  believed  to  have  operated  the  first  circular  saw  in 
Worcester,  at  the  old  Red  Mill,  where  now  are  the  Crompton  Loom 
Works.  William  T.  Merrifield,  one  of  our  best  known  citizens, 
built  the  first  steam  saw  mill  in  Worcester  County,  using  circular 
saws  for  cutting  logs  in  1842,  at  Princeton.  In  other  directions  the 
manufacture  and  employment  of  wood-working  machinery  dates  from 
an  eai'ly  day  in  Worcester.  Abel  Stowell  constructed  in  1810  a 
machine  for  cutting  wooden  screws.  The  Daniels  Planer,  the 
invention  of  Thomas  E.  Daniels  of  this  city,  was  brought  out  in 
1835,  and  the  manufacture  at  the  old  Court  Mills.  H.  C.  Wight  of 
this  city,  in  184H,  invented  a  matching  machine  of  great  utility  and 
still  in  use.  There  are  now  three  large  establishments  in  this  city, 
each  of  which  has  its  own  specialties,  besides  the  supply  of  what 
have  become  the  staple  tools  in  wood-working  machinery. 

Watch  Springs. 
A  development  of  product  carried  to  high  perfection  in  one  of 
our  wire,  mills.     Spectacle  and  eye  glass  springs,  and  every  variety 
of  flat  steel  springs  are  also  produced. 

Water  Meters. 
Beginning  in  1 868  a  large  industry  has  grown  up  in  Worcester  in 
the  manufacture  of  water  meters,  the  use  of  which  has  largely  grown 
within  the  past  few  seasons  in  all  our  cities  and  large  centres.  The 
Ball  &  Fitts  Piston  Meter,  the  Fitts  Rotary  Meter,  Duplex  Piston 
Meter  and  the  Desper  Meter  are  made  here. 

Wind  Engine. 
A  windmill  of  approved  construction,  invented  and  manufactured 
here,  is  very  widely  in  use.     The  manufacture  commenced  in  1879. 

Wire. 

Two  wire  drawing  establishments,  with  a  joint  product  of  two 
hundred  tons  of  finished  iron,  copper  and  steel  wire  daily,  a  total 
annual  product  of  eight  million  dollars.  One  of  these  Worcester 
wire  mills,  established  in  1834,  is  the  largest  exclusive  wire  mill  in 


164  BI-CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

the  world.  One  hundred  and  twenty-five,  or  more,  varieties  of  iron 
and  steel  wire  are  made  in  these  mills,  contributing  to  a  large  number 
of  manufacturing  industries.  Among  the  leading  specialties  of  our 
wire  industry  are  barb  wire,  telegraph  and  telephone  wire,  wire  rope, 
bale  ties,  watch  springs,  covered  corset  and  crinoline  wire,  pump 
chain,  wire  rods,  which  see  under  separate  heads.  The  manufacture 
of  copper  wire  for  electric  and  general  purposes  has  been  extensively 
entered  upon  this  season,  which  see  elsewhere. 

Wire  Goods. 
The  manufacture  of  iron  wire  in  this  vicinity  (See  Wire)  early 
stimulated  enterprise  for  the  consumption  of  such  product.  In  the 
same  year,  1834,  which  saw  the  founding  of  .what  is  now  our  princi- 
pal wire  mill,  Jabez  Bigelow  began  on  Front  Street  the  making  of 
wire  cloth  sieves,  riddles,  rat  traps,  and  a  variety  of  small  wares  and 
specialties  in  wire  goods.  The  original  enterprise  is  still  in  the 
hands  of  his  successors  and  the  business  has  grown  to  very  large 
dimensions.  There  are  now  three  concerns  for  the  manufacture  of 
wire  goods,  covering  a  very  large  list  of  articles  of  a  staple  and 
permanent  utility  and  value.  The  business  is  a  very  strong  one,  and 
Worcester  has  found  this  adjunct  and  development  of  the  wire 
business  steadily  growing  and  permanently  prosperous. 

Wire  Rope. 
The  employment  of  steel  wire  for  ropes  and  cables  for  general 
lifting  and  hoisting  purposes  has  been  carried  to  large  proportions  by 
the  great  increase  in  the  number  of  elevators  in  buildings  of  all 
classes,  as  well  as  the  development  of  hoisting  machinery  in  mines 
and  quarries.  One  of  our  wire  mills  has  just  completed  a  separate 
extensive  department  for  the  manufacture  of  all  kinds  of  steel  rope 
from  small  wire  cordage  to  larger  cables. 

Wire  Springs. 
A  large  establishment,  with  a  substantial  four-story  brick  factory, 
erected  in  the  summer  of    1884,   has  gone  into   operation   for   the 
manufacture  of  all  varieties  of  wire  springs,  with  improved  machinery. 
Twenty-five  hands  employed. 

Wood  Turning. 
Four  establishments,  employing  thirty-five  men,  witli  a  product  of 
from  $3,500  to  $4,000  per  month,  producing  all   varieties  of  wood 
turning  in  regular  and  irregular  forms. 


WORCESTER   OF   TO-DAY.  165 

Woolen  Goods. 

In  1804  the  ingenious  and  enterprising  Stowells  were  weaving 
carpets  and  plaids  in  Worcester,  using  six  looms  of  their  own 
invention  and  manufacture.  In  1836  there  were  two  mills  here  for 
the  manufacture  of  broadcloth.  One  of  these,  that  of  Wm.  B.  Fox 
and  George  T.  Rice,  with  fifty  operatives  and  a  product  of  five  hun- 
dred yards  weekly.  There  are  now  two  woollen  mills,  the  Worcester 
Woollen  Mill,  manufacturing  fine  and  medium  cassimeres,  two  hun- 
dred and  twenty-five  men,  with  a  product  of  $400,000  annually. 
Another  establishment  runs  thirty-four  looms  exclusively  on  beaver 
cloths,  with  a  product  of  $350,000  per  year. 

Worsted  Goods. 

The  manufacture  of  worsted  goods  began  here  in  1876.  There  ai-e 
now  two  establishments  from  the  same  root,  with  an  aggregate  of  one 
hundred  and  five  looms,  running  on  worsted  suitings  for  men's  wear, 
ladies'  cloakings,  &c.,  using  Worcester  fancy  looms.  Weekly 
product  of  six  thousand  yards,  with  average  value  of  $8,500,  or  about 
$350,000  annually.  As  stated  in  another  connection  one  of  these 
mills  spins  its  own  yarn. 

Worsted  Spinning. 

The  industry  of  worsted  yarn  spinning  grew  out  of  the  carpet 
manufacture.  There  are  now  three  spinning  mills,  one  of  these 
burned  the  present  year  is  being  rebuilt.  Spinning  began  here  with 
twelve  frames  about  1872.  There  are  now  forty-four  frames  with 
six  thousand  five  hundred  spindles  and  three  hundred  and  sixty 
operatives,  which  is  an  increase  of  nearly  one-third  within  the  past 
twelve  months.  Two  of  these  mills  are  employed  exclusively  on 
carpet  yarns,  the  third  has  especial  connection  with  an  adjoining 
worsted  manufactory. 

Wrenches. 

The  manufacture  of  hand  wrenches  began  in  1841  and  has  proved 
a  widely  recognized  and  successful  branch  of  Worcester  industry. 
There  are  now  two  establishments  from  the  same  parent  root,  whose 
total  annual  product  is  $400,000.  At  one  of  these  only  wrenches  are 
made,  at  the  other  also  shear  blades  and  cutter  knives. 


BIBLIOGRAPHY. 


The  following  list  comprises  the  titles  of  books  and  pamphlets 
containing  historical  information  in  relation  to  the  town  and  city  of 
Worcester,  which  have  come  to  the  notice  of  the  compiler.  Undoubt- 
edly some  titles  have  been  omitted  which  should  appear  in  such  a  list, 
and  there  are  many  biographical  and  memorial  publications  containing 
more  or  less  local  history  which  have  been  excluded  as  not  coming 
within  the  proposed  plan. 

The  annual  town  and  city  documents,  reports  of  societies  and  of 
other  local  organizations,  with  the  historical  notes  which  have  been 
published  in  the  newspapers  from  time  to  time,  give  much  valuable 
information,  but  any  enumeration  of  them  would  far  exceed  the  limits 
of  this  list. 

The  compiler  has  most  of  the  books  and  pamphlets  mentioned, 
in  his  own  collection,  but  has  received  additions  of  scarce  titles  from 
the  American  Antiquarian  Society  and  the  Free  Public  Library. 

The  list  of  maps  of  Worcester  given  in  connection  with  the  local 
history  is  intended  to  cover  only  such  as  have  been  published  in 
separate  form,  and  does  not  include  those  expressly  prepared  for 
book  publications.  A  few  scarce  manuscript  maps  are  noticed  as 
being  of  special  historical  value. 

The  list  of  views  of  Worcester  contains  only  engraved  or  photo- 
graphic views  of  the  whole  town  or  city,  which  have  been  offered  for 
public  sale.  This  bibliography  has  been  prepared  with  the  hope  that 
it  may  prove  of  value  to  future  students  of  our  local  history. 


The  Worcester  Magazine.  From  the  first  week  in  April,  1786,  to  the  fourth  week  in 
March,  1788.    Published  by  I.  Thomas. 

This  was  published  Instead  of  tlie  Massachusetts  Spy,  which  was  suspended  on 
account  of  the  tax  on  newspapers. 

A  Topographical  Description  of  the  Town  of  Worcester  in  1792.  Communicated  by 
Timothy  Paine,  William  Young,  Edward  Bangs,  Esqrs.,  and  Dr.  Samuel  Stearns, 
to  the  Massachusetts  Historical  Society.  Published  in  Volume  first  of  the  Proceed- 
ings of  that  Society,    pp.  112-116.    Boston,  1792. 


168  BI-CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

History  of  the  County  of  Worcester.  By  Peter  Whitney ;  with  a  map.  8vo.  pp. 
339.    Worcester.    Printed  by  Isaiah  Thomas,  1793. 

An  Address  delivered  at  Worcester  (Mass.),  on  the  21st  of  October,  1807,  before  the 
Hon.  Major  General,  the  Brigadiers,  Field  and  Staff  Officers,  and  Officers  of  the 
Line,  of  the  Seventh  Division  of  the  Militia  of  Massachusetts.  By  Major  Levi 
Lincoln,  Jr.    pp.  12.    Worcester.    Printed  by  Henry  Rogers,  1807. 

Sermon  at  Worcester,  January  6, 1811,  with  historical  notes.  By  Aaron  Bancroft, 
D.D.    8vo.    pp.  24.    Worcester,  1811. 

Origin  and  Progress  of  the  Late  Difficulties  in  the  First  Church,  Worcester.  Svo. 
pp.  88.    Worcester,  1820. 

Result  of  a  Mutual  Ecclesiastical  Council  convened  at  Worcester,  November  14, 1820, 
to  consider  the  expediency  of  granting  the  request  of  the  Rev.  Charles  A.  Goodrich 
to  be  dismissed  from  the  pastoral  care  of  the  First  Church  and  Parish  in  Worcester. 
8vo.    pp.  10.    Printed  by  Manning  and  Trumbull.    December,  1820. 

Remarks  on  the  Late  Publications  of  the  First  Church  in  Worcester,  of  which  the 
Rev.  Charles  A.  Goodrich  was  pastor,  relative  to  the  "Origin  and  Progress  of 
Difficulties"  in  that  Church,  pp.  103.,  Worcester.  Printed  by  Manning  and 
Trumbull.    January,  1821. 

An  Address,  delivered  at  the  Dedication  of  the  Town  Hall  in  Worcester,  the  2d  day 
of  May,  1825.  By  John  Davis.  8vo.  pp.  36.  Worcester.  Printed  by  William 
Manning,  1825. 

Worcester  Magazine  and  Historical  Journal.  Edited  by  William  Lincoln  and 
Christopher  C.  Baldwin.    2  Vols.    8vo.    Worcester,  1826-27. 

Discourse  delivered  before  the  Second  Congregational  Society,  Worcester,  8th  day  of 
April,  1827.    By  A.  Bancroft,  D.D.    8vo.    pp.  20.    Charles  Griffin.    Worcester, 

1827. 

The  Worcester  Talisman ;  a  literary  and  miscellaneous  journal ;  one  volume.  April  5, 
1828,  to  March  21,  1829.  (In  April.  1828,  and  January,  1829,  a  Village  Register 
was  prepared  to  accompany  the  Talisman).  Published  by  Dorr  &  Howlaud. 
1828-29. 

Worcester  Vilhige  Directory,  containing  the  names  of  the  inhabitants,  their  dwelling- 
houses  and  places  of  business,— arranged  according  to  the  streets  and  squares. 
•     To  accompany  a  map  of  the  Village  of  Worcester.    24mo.    pp.  12.    Worcester. 
Published  by  Clarendon  Harris,  1829.     (A  reprint  of  the  Directory  was  published 
by  Tyler  &  Seagrave  in  1872.) 

A  Geography  of  Worcester  County  for  Young  Children,  etc.  By  James  G.  Carter 
and  Wm.  H.  Brooks.  24mo.  Illustrated,  pp.  66.  Lancaster,  1830.  (Contains  a 
brief  notice  of  Worcester,  with  cuts.) 

An  Address  to  the  Members  of  the  Bar  of  Worcester  County,  October  2d,  1829.  By 
Joseph  W'llard.    Svo.    pp.  144.    Lancaster,  1830. 

A  Sermon  delivered  in  Worcester,  January  31,  1836.  By  Aaron  Bancroft,  D.D.,  at 
the  termination  of  Fifty  Years  of  his  Ministry.  8vo.  pp.  44.  Worcester^ 
C.  Harris,  1836. 

History  of  Worcester,  Mass.,  from  its  Earliest  Settlement  to  September,  1836.  By 
William  Lincoln.  8vo.  pp.  384.  Worcester,  Moses  D.  Phillips  &,  Co.,  1837.  This 
was  reprinted  in  1862,  with  the  history  from  1836  to  1861,  by  Charles  Hersey. 


BIBLIOGRAPHY.  169 

Address  at  the  Consecration  of  the  Worcester  Rural  Cemetery,  September  8, 1838. 
By  Levi  Lincoln.    8vo.    pp.  36.    Boston,  1838. 

Historical  Sketch  of  Worcester,  in  "  Barber's  Historical  Collections  of  Massachusetts." 
pp.  618  to  624.    Worcester,  1839.     (Another  Edition  in  1841.) 

Address  at  the  opening  of  the  New  Court  House  in  Worcester,  Sept.  30,  1845,  by 
Lemuel  Shaw.    8vo.    Worcester,  1845. 

Valuation  and  Taxes  of  the  Town  of  Worcester  in  1846  (contains  the  names  of  most 
of  the  property  holders  at  that  date).  8vo.  pp.  40.  By  Thornton  A.Merrick. 
Boston,  1846. 

Proceedings  of  a  Public  Meeting  of  the  Inhabitants  of  Worcester,  August  28, 1847, 
upon  the  subject  of  the  Passenger  Depot  of  the  Western  Railroad  in  Worcester. 
8vo.    pp.  24.    Worcester,  1847. 

Epitaphs  from  the  Cemetery  on  Worcester  Common,  with  occasional  notes,  references 
and  an  index.    By  William  S.  Barton.    8vo.    pp.  36.    Worcester,  1848. 

Worcester  in  1850.  With  an  historical  sketch  and  a  map  of  the  city.  Henry  J.  How- 
land.    12mo.    Worcester,  1850. 

The  Worcester  Pulpit;  with  notices,  historical  and  biographical.  By  Rev.  E. 
Smalley,  D.D.    pp.  562.    Boston,  Phillips,  Sampson  &  Co.,  1851. 

The  Citizens  and  Strangers'  Guide  in  the  City  of  Worcester,  with  a  map  of  the  city 
Sm.  4to.    pp.  27.    n.  d. 

A  Discourse  delivered  at  the  Dedication  of  the  Meeting-house  of  the  Second  Congre- 
gational Society  in  Worcester.  Svo.  pp.  55.  By  Rev.  Alonzo  Hill.  Worcester, 
Andrew  Hutchinson,  1851. 

Manual  of  the  Old  South  Church,  Worcester.  16mo.  pp.  31.  (With  brief  history 
of  the  Church.)     Worcester,  1854.     (Editions  were  also  published  in  1864  and  1877.) 

Carl's  Tour  in  Main  Street.  Published  in  the  Worcester  Palladium,  1855,  also  in 
1857-58  and  in  1874,  in  32  chapters.  This  is  a  notice  of  the  more  prominent  houses 
on  Main  Street  as  they  were  twenty  years  before,  with  much  historical  and 
biographical  infoi-mation.  By  J.  S.  C.  Knowlton.  The  material  for  this  publication 
was  collected  by  Clarendon  Wheelock. 

Address  at  the  Social  Festival  of  the  Bar  of  Worcester  County,  February  7, 1856. 
By  Emory  Washburn.    Svo.    pp.  73.    Worcester,  1856. 

The  Heart  of  the  Commonwealth ;  or,  Worcester  as  it  is  in  1856 ;  with  an  historical 
notice  of  the  town.    pp.  131.    H.  J.  Howland,  1856. 

The  Farewell  to  the  Old  School-house  and  Dedication  of  the  New,  at  New  Worcester, 
July  26,  and  August  30, 1858.    pp.  30.    1858. 

Reminiscences  of  the  Military  Life  and  Sufferings  of  Col.  Timothy  Bigelow,  Com- 
mander of  the  Fifteenth  Regiment  of  the  Massachusetts  Line  in  the  Continental 
Army,  during  the  War  of  the  Revolution.  By  Charles  Hersey.  pp.  24.  Worces- 
ter, 1860. 

Ceremonies  at  the  Dedication  of  the  Bigelow  Monument.  Worcester,  Mass.,  April 
19, 1861.    Svo.    pp.  37.    Boston,  John  Wilson  &  Son,  1861. 

Historical  Sketch  of  the  Worcester  County  Mechanics  Association.  12mo.  pp.  70. 
Worcester.  1861. 

13 


170  BI-CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

Fiske's  Pocket  Business  Manual  of  the  City  of  Worcester.    24mo.    Worcester,  1862. 

and  1863. 
An  Historical  Discourse  on  the  Fiftieth  Anniversary  of  the  First  Baptist  Church  in 

Worcester,  December  9th,  1862,  with  an  appendix.    By  Isaac  Davis,    Svo,    pp.  52. 

Worcester,  1863. 

An  Historical  Discourse  delivered  at  Worcester  in  the  Old  South  Meeting  House, 
September  22,  1863;  the  Hundredth  Anniversary  of  its  Erection.  By  Leonard 
Bacon,  D.D.  With  introductory  remarks  by  Hon.  Ira  M.  Barton,  Svo,  pp,  106, 
Worcester,  1863, 

Manual  of  the  First  Church  in  Worcester,  with  historical  notes,  pp,  41,  Worcester, 
1864. 

Services  at  the  Installation  of  Rev,  B,  F,  Bowles  as  Pastor  of  the  First  Universallst 
Society,  Worcester,  Mass.,  and  the  Twenty-fifth  Anniversary  Exercises,  October 
10,  1866,  Historical  Address  by  Rev,  S,  P,  Landers,  Svo,  pp,  52,  Tyler  and 
Seagrave,  1866. 

The  Worcester  Association  and  its  Antecedents;  a  History  of  Four  Ministerial 
Associations,  with  biographical  notes.  (Notices  of  Unitarian  ministers  in  Worces- 
ter).   By  Rev.  Joseph  Allen.    12mo.    pp.426.    Boston,  1868. 

Historical  Discourse  on  the  Fiftieth  Anniversary  of  the  Worcester  Baptist  Associa- 
tion. September  22,  1869.  By  Rev,  David  Weston,  Svo,  pp,  26,  Worcester, 
1869. 

The  Pastor's  Record ;  a  sermon  preached  March  28, 1867,  before  the  Second  Congrega- 
tional Society  in  Worcester,  on  the  Fortieth  Anniversary  of  his  Settlement.  By 
Rev.  Alonzo  Hill,    Svo,    pp,  66.    Cambridge,  1867. 

Reminiscences  of  the  Original  Associates  and  Past  Memherf?  of  the  Worcester  Fire 
Society.  By  Levi  Lincoln  and  Isaac  Davis.  Svo.  pp.  72.  Printed  for  the  Society. 
Worcester,  1870. 

Atlas  .of  the  City  of  Worcester,  Worcester  County,  Mass,  From  actual  surveys  by 
and  under  the  direction  of  F,  W,  Beers.  Large  quarto,  pp.  83.  19  maps.  New 
York,  1870. 

History  of  Worcester  in  the  War  of  the  Rebellion.  By  A.  P.  Marvin.  Svo.  pp. 
582.    Worcester,  1870.    (Second  Edition,  1880.) 

Historical  Address  before  the  Lyceum  and  Natural  History  Association.    May  17, 

1870.  By  Nathaniel  Paine,    pp.  xx-14,    Worcester,  1870. 

Business  Men  of  Worcester  Fifty  Years  Ago.    By  Caleb  A.  Wall.    Published  in  the 

Worcester  Daily  Spy,  1870. 
Worcester  High  School.    Dedication  of  the  New  High  School-house,  December  30, 

1871.  Svo,    pp,  62.    Worcester,  1871, 

Photographs  of  School-houses  and  other  Institutions  in  Worcester,  Mass,,  U,  S,  A, 
With  brief  descriptions  of  the  buildings  and  some  account  of  various  institutions  in 
the  city.  Compiled  by  Albert  P,  Marble,  Superintendent  of  Public  Schools, 
Oblong  4to.  pp.  10,  and  29  photographs.    Worcester,  1873. 

Memoir  of  Isaiah  Thomas,  by  his  grandson,  Benjamin  Franklin  Thomas.  Svo, 
pp.  73,  Privately  printed.  Boston,  1874,  (This  was  also  printed  in  Thomas's 
History  of  Printing,  second  edition,) 


BIBLIOGRAPHY.  171 

Reminiscences  of  the  Past  Members  of  the  Worcester  Fire  Society.  By  Benjamin  F. 
Thomas  and  Isaac  Davis.    8vo.    pp.  49.    Printed  for  the  Society.    Worcester,  1874. 

Dedication  of  the  Soldiers'  Monument  at  Worcester,  Massachusetts,  July  15,  A.  D. 
1874.  8vo.  pp.  90.  Printed  by  Order  of  the  Monument  Committee.  Worcester, 
1875. 

Worcester  Illustrated.  (Pamphlet.)  8vo.  pp.  56.  James  A.  Ambler  Co.  Worces- 
ter, 1875. 

History  of  the  Worcester  Choral  Union.    16mo.    pp.  28.    Worcester,  1875. 

Account  of  the  AVorcester  Lyceum  and  Natural  History  Association.  By  Nathaniel 
Paine,    pp.  12.    Worcester,  1876. 

Portraits  and  Busts  in  possession  of  the  American  Antiquarian  Society  and  other 
Associations  in  Worcester,  Mass.  By  Nathaniel  Paine.  8vo.  pp.  7.  Boston, 
1876.     (Reprinted  from  the  Historic-Genealogical  Register.) 

Worcester  in  the  War  of  the  Revolution,  embracing  the  Acts  of  the  Town  from  1765 
to  1783  inclusive.    Svo.    pp.  128.    Albert  A.  Lovell.    Worcester,  1876. 

Celebration  by  the  Inhabitants  of  Worcester,  Mass.,  of  the  Centennial  Anniversary 
of  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  July  4, 1876.  To  which  are  added  Historical 
and  Chronological  Notes,  pp.  146.  Printed  by  order  of  the  City  Council.  Worces- 
ter, 1876. 

Notes,  Historical  and  Chronological  on  the  Town  of  Worcester,  Mass.  By  Nathaniel 
Paine.  Thirty-five  copies  printed  for  private  distribution.  Large  Svo.  pp.  50. 
Worcester,  1876.    Most  of  the  matter  was  printed  in  the  last  named  volume. 

Worcester  in  the  International  Exhibition  of  1876.  A  series  of  fourteen  or  fifteen 
papers  giving  a  brief  account  of  the  principal  educational  institutions,  associations, 
etc.,  of  Worcester.    Worcester,  1876. 

Tables  showing  Population,  Valuation,  etc.,  of  Worcester,  1850-1876.     8vo.    pp.  16. 

Worcester,  1876. 
Historical  Sketch  of  College  of  Holy  Cross.    Svo.    pp.  20.    Worcester,  1876. 

Report  on  the  Worcester  Schools,  1876.  Contains  an  historical  sketch  of  the  Public 
Schools  in  Worcester.    Svo.    Worcester,  1877. 

Historical  Sketch  of  the  First  Baptist  Church,  Worcester.  By  Rev.  B.  D.  Marshall. 
Svo.    pp.  17.    Worcester,  1877. 

Reminiscences  |of  Worcester;  from  the  earliest  period;  historical  and  genealogical. 
With  notices  of  early  settlers  and  prominent  citizens,  etc.  pp.  392.  By  Caleb  A. 
Wall.    Worcester,  1877. 

Report  of  the  Joint  Committee  of  the  City  Council  of  Worcester  on  Rebuilding  the 
Lynde  Brook  Dam.  A  complete  history  of  the  Worcester  Water  Works  from  1722 
tol877,  by  Clark  Jillsou,  1877.    4to.    pp.86.    Press  of  Clark  Jillson,  1877. 

Manual  of  the  Calvinist  Church,  Worcester,  Mass.  (with  historical  notes).  Sm.  Svo. 
pp.  27.    1877. 

Company  Proceedings  of  the  Worcester  Continentals,  1876-1878.  By  G.  H.  Harlow, 
Clerk.    Svo.    pp.  40.    Worcester,  1878. 

Historical  Remarks  concerning  the  Mechanic  Street  Burial  Ground  in  the  City  of 
Worcester,  offered  to  the  Joint  Committee  of  the  Legislature  of  Massachusetts, 
March  14,  1878.    By  Rev.  George  Allen.    Worcester,  1878.    pp.  17. 


172  BI-CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

The  Lumber  Business  of  Worcester.  By  Ellery  B.  Craue.  pp.  13-33— Proceedings 
of  the  Worcester  Society  of  Antiquity  for  1878. 

History  of  the  Blackstone  Canal.  By  Israel  Plummer.  pp.  41-50— Proceedings  of 
the  Worcester  Society  of  Antiquity  for  1878. 

The  Butman  Riot,  October  30,  1854.  By  Albert  Tyler,  pp.  85-94— Proceedings  of 
the  Worcester  Society  of  Antiquity  for  1878. 

Inscriptions  from  the  Old  Burial  Grounds  in  Worcester.  Massachusetts,  from  1727  to 
1859.  With  biographical  and  historical  notes.  Published  by  the  Worcester  Society 
of  Antiquity.    1879.    8vo.    pp.  160. 

Report  on  Local  History  and  Genealogy;  contains  history  of  the  Foster  Street 
Extension  and  removal  of  the  Depot  of  the  Boston  and  Worcester  Railroad.  By 
Ellery  B.  Crane,  pp.  87-103.— Proceedings  of  the  Worcester  Society  of  Antiquity 
for  1879. 

Early  Records  of  the  Town  of  Worcester.  Book  I.  1722-1739.  Published  by  the 
Worcester  Society  of  Antiquity.  8vo.  pp.  142.  [Edited  by  Franklin  P.  Rice.] 
[225  copies.]     Worcester,  1879. 

Addresses  Before  the  Members  of  the  Bar  of  Worcester  County,  Mass. :  By  Joseph 
Willard,  1829;  Emory  Washburn,  1856;  Dwight  Foster,  1878;  with  a  List  of 
Members  of  the  Bar.    8vo.    pp.  250.    Worcester,  1S79. 

Histoi-y  of  Worcester  County;  edited  by  A.  P.  Marvin.  2  vols.  4to.  Boston,  1879. 
(Contains  History  of  the  City  of  Worcester,  by  Charles  A.  Chase.  Vol.  II. 
pp.  548-667.) 

The  Trade  of  Worcester  during  the  Present  Century.  By  Henry  H.  Chamberlin. 
pp.  27-38— Pi'oceediugs  of  the  Worcester  Society  of  Antiquity,  1880. 

Early  Records  of  the  Town  of  Worcester.  Book  II.  1740-1753.  Published  by  the 
Worcester  Society  of  Antiquity.  8vo.  pp.  145.  [Edited  by  Franklin  P.  Rice.] 
[250  copies.]     1880. 

Historical  Sketch  of  the  Central  Society  in  Worcester,  etc.    8vo.  pp.  30.    1880. 

Illustrated  Business  Guide  of  the  City  of  Worcester,  Mass.,  arranged  by  streets,  with 
the  number,  name  of  firm  and  of  business  of  all  business  houses  in  Worcester; 
together  with  a  brief  description  of  all  points  of  interest,  and  views  of  public  and 
private  buildings.    4to.    pp.  171.    Snow,  Woodman  &  Co.    Worcester,  1880. 

Records  of  the  Proprietors  of  Worcester,  Massachusetts.  Edited  by  Franklin  P. 
Rice.  [With  nearly  300  plans.]  Published  by  the  Worcester  Society  of  Antiquity. 
Svo.    pp.  336.     [250  copies.]     1881. 

Shays's  Rebellion.  By  Ellery  B.  Craue.  pp.  61-111— Proceedings  of  the  Worcester 
Society  of  Antiquity  for  1881. 

Worcester  Town  Records  from  1753  to  1783.    Edited  by  Franklin  P.  Rice.    Published 

by  the  Worcester  Society  of  Antiquity.    Svo.    pp.  472.     [300  copies.]     1882. 

The  Worcester  Manufacturer;  containing  a  complete  list  of  the  manufacturers, 
statistics  of  consumption  and  production,  capital  invested,  hands  employed,  wages 
paid,  and  much  other  information  of  the  city  of  Worcester.  Svo.  pp.  56. 
F.  S.  Blanchard  &  Co.    1882. 

Records  of  the  Court  of  General  Sessions  of  the  Peace  for  the  County  of  Worcester, 
Massachusetts,  from  1731  to  1737.  Edited  by  Franklin  P.  Rice.  Published  by  the 
Worcester  Society  of  Antiquity.    Svo.    pp.  197.     [225  copies.]     1883. 


BIBLIOGEAPHY.  173 

Transactions  of  the  Worcester  Agricultural  Society  with  reference  to  the  New 
England  Fair  held  in  Worcester  from  1878  to  1882.  Printed  by  order  of  the 
Trustees.    Worcester,  1883. 

Worcester  Vest  Pocket  Guide,    pp.  96.    Moses  King,  Cambridge,    n.  d.    (1883.) 

Kalender  ofver  Svenskarne  i  Worcester.  Utgif ven  af  Zetterman  och  Latt,  Worcester, 
Mass.,  Utgifvarnes  Forlag,  1883.     (First  Swedish  directory  of  Worcester.) 

Theatres  and  Public  Halls  of  Worcester,  with  plans.     12mo.    Putnam  &  Davis. 

1880  and  1883. 

Gleanings  from  the  Sources  of  History  of  the  Second  Parish,  Worcester,  Massachu- 
setts.   By  Samuel  S.  Green,    pp.  22.    Worcester,  1883. 

The  Worcester  Book:  a  Diary  of  Noteworthy  Events  in  Worcester,  Massachusetts, 
from  1657  to  1883.    By  Franklin  P.  Rice.    Svo.    Illustrated,    pp.  159.    1884. 

The  Early  Settlements  of  Worcester.  By  Francis  E.  Blake.  8vo.  pp.  33.  Printed 
by  F.  P.  Rice.    1884. 

Historical  Sketch  of  the  Worcester  County  Musical  Association.  By  Samuel  E. 
Staples.    Svo.    pp.  26.    1884. 

An  Episode  of  Worcester  History.    By  Nathaniel  Paine.    8vo.    pp.  9.    1884. 

Random  Recollections  of  Worcester.    1839-1843.    By  Nathaniel  Paine.    8vo.    pp.  46. 

Worcester,  1885. 

[Directories  of  Worcester  have  been  issued  annually  since  1843,  and  many  of  them 
contain  valuable  historical  information.  Plans  of  the  town  and  city  are  published 
in  connection  with  many  of  the  Directories] . 

October  15, 1884,  the  day  of  the  celebration  of  Worcester's  Bi-Centenuial,  two  news- 
papers were  published,  each  containing  historical  notes  on  Worcester,  as  well  as 
advertising  matter:  Worcester  Bi-Centenuial;  printed  and  published  by  F.  S. 
Blanchard  &  Co. ;  folio,  with  several  illustrations.  Also,  Worcester's  200  Anniver- 
sary; folio,  published  by  H.  R.  Cummings. 


MAPS  AND  VIEWS  OF  WORCESTER. 

MAPS. 

A  manuscript  map  of  the  town  in  1784,  by  Wm.  Youug.t 

A  copy  of  a  manuscript  map  in  the  Secretary  of  State's  Ofl5ce,  Boston,  made  by  order 
of  the  town  in  1794.t 

MS.  plan  of  the  town  of  Worcester,  from  a  survey  made  in  Nov.,  1825.  By  Caleb 
Butler.    At  City  Clerk's  Office. 

A  map  of  the  village  of  Worcester.  By  Ed.  E.  Phelps,  M.D.,  Civil  Engineer.  July, 
1829.  Published  by  C.  Harris.  Carter,  Andrews  &  Co.,  So.  Lancaster.  (This 
map  has  views  of  the  Old  South  Church  and  other  public  buildings  in  the  margin.) 

A  manuscript  map  of  the  town  of  Worcester  in  1829.     (Publisher  not  given.)t 


t  In  library  of  American  Antiquarian  Society. 


174  BI-CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

A  map  of  Worcester,  shire  town  of  the  County  of  Worcester.  By  H.  Stebbins. 
Published  by  C.  Harris,  1833.  (This  map  has  in  one  coi*ner  a  small  plan  of  the 
village  of  Worcester,  also  views  of  several  public  buildings.) 

MS.  map  of  the  town.  Has  location  of  old  roads  and  many  of  the  dwelling-houses. 
Probably  made  for  Wm.  Lincoln,  the  historian,  n.  d.t 

Map  of  the  City  of  Worcester,  from  Original  Surveys  by  H.  F.  Walling.  Published 
by  Warren  Lazell.    1851. 

Map  of  the  City  of  Worcester.  Published  by  Jenkins  &  Whitcomb,  235  Main 
Street,  n.  d. 

Map  of  the  City  of  Worcester.    C.  W.  Burbauk,  1872. 

Large  map  of  the  City  of  Worcester.  Published  by  Smith  &  McKinney,  from 
surveys  of  P.  Ball.  Engraved  by  A.  Prentiss,  n.  d.  (Has  several  views  of  public 
buildings.) 

Map  of  the  City  of  Worcester,  Mass.  Compiled  from  official  surveys  and  records, 
private  plans  and  personal  surveys.  By  S.  P.  R.  Triscott,  C.  E.  Published  by 
G.  H.  Walker,  Boston,  1873. 

Map  of  the  City  of  Worcester.  S.  P.  R.  Triscott,  Civil  Engineer.  A.  Meisel,  Lith. 
Published  by  Drew,  Allis  &  Co.     Worcester,  1874. 

Map  of  Worcester,  showing  oldest  roads  and  location  of  earliest  settlers.  Prepared 
for  C.  A.  Wall's  Reminiscences  of  Worcester,  by  S.  Triscott.    1877. 

MS.  map.  Showing  the  distribution  of  lots  after  the  re-settlement  from  1713  to  1733. 
By  E.  B.  Crane.    Library  of  the  Society  of  Antiquity. 

Pocket  map  of  the  city  of  Worcester.  Published  only  by  W.  L.  Shepard  and  H.  R. 
Cummings,  1885. 

There  are  at  the  City  Hall  six  volumes  of  MS.  maps  giving  the  streets,  lots,  and 
location  of  the  sewers. 


VIEWS. 

View  of  Worcester,  Mass.,  taken  from  Union  Hill.    P.  Anderson,  del.    On  stone  by 
R.  Cooke.    T.  More's  lithography,  Boston.    No  date,  but  about  1839-40. 

View  of  Worcester,  Mass.,  from  the  Insane  Hospital.     (Has  views  of  Common, 
Main  Street,  etc.,  in  margin.)     Published  by  E.  Whitefield,  New  York,  1849. 

View  of  Worcester.    Photo,  by  Black  &  Batcheller.    Colored  lithograph  by  J.  H. 
Bufford.    Published  by  D.  B.  Tarr,  Boston,  1864. 

View  of  Worcester  from  Worcester  Academy,  Union  Hill.    Drawn  from  nature  by 
E.  Whitefield  in  1876.     (Large  photograph.) 

Bird's  Eye  View  of  the  City  of  Worcester.    Lithograph.    O.  H.  Bailey  and  J.  C. 
Hazen,  Boston,  1878. 


t  In  library  of  American  Antiquarian  Society. 


CHRONOLOGY. 


1657.    The  first  grant  of  laud  within  the  present  boundaries  of  Worcester. 

1667.  A  Committee  appointed  to  view  "a  place  about  ten  miles  westward  of  Marl- 

borow,  called  Quaudsicamond  ponds,"  to  report  "  whether  it  be  capable 
to  make  a  villiage,"  etc.    This  was  the  site  of  Worcester. 

1668.  Land  granted  to  Daniel  Gookin  and  others,  and  a  Committee  appointed  to  lay 

out  a  town.    The  Committee  reported  to  General  Court,  October  24. 
1673-4.    First  settlement  made. 

1674.  First  Indian  deed  of  the  Worcester  plantation  signed.    First  tavern,  kept  by 

Thomas  Brown. 

1675.  Settlement  abandoned  on  account  of  troubles  with  the  Indians,  who  destroyed 

the  houses  of  the  settlers. 
1684.    Second  settlement,  and  the  name  of  Worcester  fixed  by  the  General  Court, 

October  15.    Second  innholder,  Nathaniel  Henchman. 
1702.    Town  again  abandoned  by  reason  of  the  depredation  of  the  Indians.    Digory 

Serjent  killed. 

1713.  Final  settlement  of  the  town. 

1714.  First  male  child  born. 

1715.  First  death  in  the  town  after  final  settlement. 
1717.    First  meeting-house  built. 

1719.    First  minister  ordained. 

1722.    First  town  meeting  held  by  special  order  of  the  General  Court. 

1726.    First  schoolmaster  hired,  Jonas  Rice. 

1731.    Worcester  County  established.    First  Superior  and  Probate  Courts  lield. 

1733-4.    First  tavern  after  final  settlement,  Moses  Brown,  innholder. 

1740.    First  school-house  erected. 

1763.    Old  South  meeting-house  built. 

1775.  Captain  Timothy  Bigelow  and  Captain  Benjamin  Flagg  with  their  companies 

started  for  Cambridge,  April  19th,  on  the  receipt  of  news  of  the  fight  at 
Lexington.  First  issue  of  the  Massachusetts  Spy  in  Worcester,  May  3. 
First  Post-Office  established. 

1776.  First  public  reading  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence  in  New  England, 

Sunday,  July  14,  from  the  porch  of  the  Old  South  meeting-house,  by 

Isaiah  Thomas. 
1785.    Second  Congregational  Society  (Unitarian)  formed. 
1788.    Last  meeting  of  the  Proprietors. 
1798.    Mechanic  Street  burial  ground  laid  out. 
1801.    Brick  court-house  built. 


176  BI-CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

1811.  Worcester  Light  Infantry  organized.    First  bank  chartered  (Worcester  Bank) . 

1819.  First  cattle  show. 

1828.  Blackstone  canal  opened.    First  directory  of  Worcester  issued. 

1829.  First  engraved  map  of  village  of  Worcester  published. 

1835.  Fire  Department  established.    Boston  and  Worcester  Railroad  opened. 

1838.  Rural  Cemetery  dedicated. 

1840.  Worcester  Guards  organized. 

1848.  Worcester  incorporated  as  a  city. 

1852.  Hope  Cemetery  dedicated. 

1861.  Departure  of  first  troops  in  the  Civil  War :  Light  Infantry,  City  Guards  and 

Emmet  Guards. 

1863.  First  street  railroad  in  Worcester,  August  31. 

1868.  Memorial  day  first  observed. 

1871.  First  City  Hospital  opened. 

1876.  Centennial  celebration  of  Fourth  of  July.     First  parade  of  the  Worcester 

Continentals. 

1883.  Electric  Light  first  used  for  lighting  the  streets. 


ERRATA. 

On  Page  i7,  for  0.  F.  Iladwcn  read  0.  B.  Hadwon. 

On  Page  145,  for  Gardner  Bnrliank  read  Caleb  and  Elijah  Burlmnk. 

At  the  request  of  parties  interested  the  committee  accepted  for  insertion  an 
attempted  designation  of  those  taking  part  in  the  procession  wlio  served  in  the 
late  war.  The  list  is  now  believed  to  be  incomplete,  but  the  committee  have 
no  means  at  hand  for  its  revision.  The  following  corrections  liowever  deserve 
to  be  noted  here  :— 

On  Page  98,  Dr.  Charles  H.  Davis. f 

On  Page  101,  A.  S.  Roe.f 

On  Page  103,  Wm.  S.  Lincoln,  f 


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